System and method for providing educational related social/geo/promo link promotional data sets for end user display of interactive ad links, promotions and sale of products, goods, and/or services integrated with 3D spatial geomapping, company and local information for selected worldwide locations and social networking

ABSTRACT

A technique, method, apparatus, and system to provide educational related, integrated social networking, real time geospatial mapping, geo-target location based technologies including GPS and GIS and multiple points of interest, receiving current location of user&#39;s electronic or mobile device and multiple points of interest, cloud-type configuration storing and handling user data across multiple enterprises, generating user behavior data and ad links, promotions (“social/geo/promo”) links on a website for educational related products, goods, and/or services, including educational related social/geo/promo data sets for user customized visual displays showing 3D map presentations with correlated or related broad or alternative categories of social/geo/promo links to be displayed with web page content for view and interaction by an end user.

PRIORITY

This application is a continuation in part of, and claims priority to,U.S. application Ser. No. 13/233,352, filed 15 Sep. 2011, Ser. No.13/337,271, filed 26 Dec. 2011, Ser. No. 13/337,275, filed 26 Dec. 2011,Ser. No. 13/359,498, filed 27 Jan. 2012, Ser. No. 13/369,244, filed Feb.8, 2012, and Ser. No. 13/430,600, filed Mar. 26, 2012, each of whichapplications are entirely incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The subject matter relates to online systems, methods, and computerrelated aspects of providing broad and alternative category clusteringof the same, similar or different categories in social/geo/promo linkpromotional data sets for end user display of interactive ad links,promotions and sale of educational related Products, Goods, and/orServices integrated with 3D spatial geomapping and social networking.

BACKGROUND

The Geospatial Revolution examines the world of digital mapping and howit is changing the way we think, behave and interact. Geospatialinformation influences nearly everything. Seamless layers of satellites,surveillance, and location-based technologies create a worldwidegeographic knowledge base vital to the interconnected global community.The Geospatial Revolution explores compelling human stories that explainthe history, applications, related privacy issues, and impact oflocation-based technologies including GPS and GIS. The video episodesare useful for teaching history, social studies, geography, environment,and ecology, science and technology and for learning about careerdevelopment.

Time and resources are wasted in the marketing of online products andservices. Consumers waste time shopping in person or attempting tosearch for products or services online where they lack control or createsuitable preferences for access to the search results. One approachtaken in response to these and other shortcomings involves providing forproducts or services over the Internet, e.g., a system for shoppingonline over public computer networks such as the Internet. However,users and members of such systems stem usually must be registered,wherein registration and/or subscription by the user can provideinformation sufficient to identify the user, such as the users andmembers name, address, Internet e-mail address, and/or an identificationnumber, using an Internet server and a user display terminal incommunication therewith. There are, however, numerous shortcomings tosuch a system. Group buying sites leverage the power of collectivebargaining, providing local product or services deals that offer savingsfor consumers while delivering improved sales numbers to participatingmerchants.

In standard geographic information system (GIS) (also called geographicmapping and/or “GM”) system, geographically-referenced information ismaintained confidential and protected datastores by the creators and/orcollectors of such data. Access to information in the datastores iscontrolled and provided directly by the creator and/or owner. Withoutknowledge of the source and/or location of particulargeographically-referenced information and a password and/or certificateto access the information, the information is inaccessible. Integrationof geographically-referenced information to provide an integratedinterface and/or view of the information in context with a geographicmap is usually performed at a user's computer using sophisticated GMand/or GIS software.

Alternatively, a user can interface with a server device managed by thecreator through a client device running specialized softwareapplications to interact with the GM and/or GIS databases of the datacreators. At present access to data in a public forum is generallyrestricted by standard network security measures such as digestauthentication and certificates. However, there are problems andshortcomings with online products or services which should also providesocially conscious information about the companies that supply theonline products or services so that consumers can see where thecompanies and/or stores are located and can find out information aboutthe companies, communities they are located in, what interaction andhelp they provide to communities and/or other economic and/or sociallyresponsible activities, and to associate the geographical and othergeospatially available information connecting also by the use ofintegrated social media, which combination is not current providedand/or available.

Consumers enjoy interacting with friends, acquaintances and strangersacross many media channels, but that doesn't mean they trust them as asource of advertising. However, a new host of companies are connectingbrands to consumers through their social connections. New web technologyhas created unexpected ways for advertisers to track your web activitywithout your knowledge enabling advertising networks to secretly monitora user's activity across multiple websites and build detailed profilesof their behavior and interests.

Social software applications include communication tools and interactivetools. Communication tools typically handle the capturing, storing andpresentation of communications, usually written but increasinglyincluding audio and video as well. Interactive tools handle mediatedinteractions between a pair or group of users. They focus onestablishing and maintaining a connection amount users, facilitating themechanics of conversation and talk.

Interactive media (e.g., the Internet) has great potential for thetargeting of advertisements (“ads”) to receptive audiences. One form ofonline advertising is ad syndication, which allows advertisers to extendtheir marketing reach by distributing ads to additional partners. Forexample, third party online publishers can place an advertisers text orimage ads on web properties with desirable content to drive onlinecustomers to the advertisers website. An example of such a system isAdSense™ offered by Google, Inc.

Ad syndication can also include related social/geo/promo linkpromotional data sets as one type of ad format. Related social/geo/promolink promotional data sets display a list of selectable topics orcategories as links. For example, third party online publishers canplace one or more related social/geo/promo link promotional data sets ona requested web page, where the related social/geo/promo linkpromotional data sets display topics or categories relevant to thecontent of the requested web page. When a user selects one of thecategories of the related social/geo/promo link promotional data set,the user can be presented with ads in the selected category, which arerelated to the content of the requested web page. Relatedsocial/geo/promo link promotional data sets can provide ads which areclosely targeted to the interests of a user.

Related social/geo/promo link promotional data sets can display one ormore (e.g., four or five) categories.

However, if the categories of a related social/geo/promo linkpromotional data set are very similar, a user will likely choose thefirst category, ignoring the remaining categories on the list. This canreduce the distribution potential of the ads in the remaining categorieson the list. If multiple related social/geo/promo link promotional datasets are displayed with a web page, a user may have difficulty finding aparticular category of interest if the categories are scattered acrossthe multiple related social/geo/promo link promotional data sets withoutregard to the correlation or diversity of the categories.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides one or more of a method, apparatus,computer readable medium, computer system, wireless or wired network, orsystem to provide educational related and integrated social networking,real time geospatial mapping, geo-target location based technologiesincluding GPS and GIS and multiple points of interest, receiving currentlocation of user's electronic or mobile device and multiple points ofinterest, cloud-type configuration storing and handling user data acrossmultiple enterprises, generating user behavior data, ad links andpromotions (“social/geo/promo”) links on a website for educationalrelated products, goods, or services, including educational relatedsocial/geo/promo data sets for user customized visual displays showing3D map presentations with correlated or related broad or alternativecategories of social/geo/promo links to be displayed with web pagecontent for view by an end user.

The present invention provides in one aspect a system and method forproviding combined technologies for social networking interactions usingtracking, predicting, and implementing online consumer communications,browsing behavior, buying patterns, social networking, social networkingcommunications, embedded advertisements and affiliate advertising andcommunications, for ad links, promotions, online coupons, mobileservices, Educational related Products, Goods, and/or Services, on athree dimensional geospatial platform using geospatial mappingtechnology, company-local information, social networking, and socialnetworking communities (“EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN”).

The present invention addresses problems and/or shortcomings of prioronline products and services, which should also provide sociallyconscious information about the companies that supply the onlineproducts and services so that consumers can see where the companiesand/or stores are located and can find out information about thecompanies, communities they are located in, what interaction and helpthey provide to communities and/or other economic and/or sociallyresponsible activities, and to associate the geographical and othergeospatially available information connecting also by the use ofintegrated social media, which combination is not current providedand/or available.

As users and members and/or subscribers of the website Educationalrelated Products, Goods, and/or Services, (e.g., “Social Shoppers”) shopthe world for ad links, promotions, online coupons, mobile services.Such users and members and/or subscribers (e.g., “Social Shoppers”) canfind great ad links, promotions, online coupons, mobile services,Educational related Products, Goods, and/or Services from leading travel& hospitality industry, restaurants, toy and/or entertainment companiesand/or top brands and retailers around the world.

Users and members of the present invention can do one or more of thefollowing: Use the present invention after installing Google Earth™ orsimilar plug-ins; View Social Earth ad links, promotions, Educationalrelated Products, Goods, and/or Services, optional information aboutmicroloans or microcredit, humanitarian aid and supporting other worldlycauses such as saving the children, hunger & poverty, clean watersupply, global warming, Amazon Rain Forest, saving our planet from graveecological harm and raising money through charitable donations orsustainable gifts for those in need around the world by geo-targetlocation based technologies including GPS and GIS on the presentinventions unique Live View of the planet; View “live social feeds” fromsocial networking sites such as Facebook™ and Twitter™; Zoom tobirds-eye and human scale view and navigate around stunning 3D satelliteimages of the virtual Earth; Type in an address and fly directly to thelocation on the platform by using the zoom technology; and/or Watchvideos from RSS links. The present invention provides a uniqueinteractive user experience, view live links to places and eventsknowing that a portion of the dollars spent on the present invention aregoing to help those in impoverished conditions around the world.

The delivery system for a host geospatial website (accessible via amobile device or computer) can provide for a multidimensionalrepresentation of information and/or sealable version of web content foran infrastructure and global platform that provides users and membersand businesses of all types and sizes with access to broad markets forthe delivery system and method for providing combined social behaviortracking, online surveillance and web bot software technologies via amobile device or computer for tracking online consumer behavior anddata, cookies, embedded advertisements and affiliate advertising, socialplugins, social applications, predicting online consumer behavior,buying patterns, monitoring online activity, location, onlinecommunications, search inquiries, social networking, social plugins, adlinks, promotions, social applications, products, goods and services, ona three dimensional geospatial platform using geospatial mappingtechnology.

A host geospatial website can include realistic virtual landscape usingsatellite and/or aerial photography that can include many content layersof web based information, e-commerce and mobile banking links, socialnetworking, social networking communities and/or advertisements andaffiliate advertising for a richer user experience. A host geospatialwebsite shall store images, web-based content, social data and/or sharelive social feeds from social networking giants Facebook™ and Twitter™,social networking, social networking communities, social plugins, socialapplications, ad links, promotions, Educational related Products, Goods,and/or Services, and/or other communications in real-time. The use ofgeospatial mapping for associating information to specific places caninclude, but is not limited to, one or more of: Live links to places andevents; Data on the landscape; Zoom to birds-eye and human scale views;3D custom audio/visual content; Interactive 360 panoramas; Fly-throughtours with content, narration, music; Stunning imagery and videos; 3Dbuildings and landscaping e-commerce and mobile banking tools and hooks;Advertising on the landscape; Advanced search for private and publicinformation; Social networking, social plugins, social applications,social integration and social networking communities; Self-posting foruploading user generated content; Custom tools, social and mobile appsand widgets; tracking social behavior and the like.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a newmechanism for tracking social behavior and profiling a user during themarketing of digital content, by any means known in the art, e.g., asdisclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 09/797,647, filed Mar. 1, 2001,which is entirely incorporated herein by reference.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a mechanism which issubstantially ambivalent to the underlying nature of the digitalcontent.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a mechanism whichworks when the user is off-line and accessing a local inventory of thedigital content.

Another object of the invention is to provide geo-target location basedtechnologies including GPS and GIS or mobile device and receivingcurrent location of user's electronic device and multiple points ofinterest.

Another object of the invention is to provide group chat, circle offriends, hangouts, games, search, uploading videos or photos and instantmessenger in connection with social networking and multiple points ofinterest.

Another object of the invention is to provide cloud-type configurationstoring and handling user data across multiple applications andgenerating user behavior data.

And, another object of the invention is to provide such a mechanismwhich operates continuously, whenever consumers want and without needfor the actual physical availability of vendor and financialintermediary parties.

Briefly, preferred embodiment of the present invention is a method forcollecting user data, and optionally creating a user profile. A part ofan end users online or user profile is their Volunteered GeographicInformation (VGI) such as a user's current geographical location. Socialnetwork members in different cities, countries, or continents engage indifferent activities due to accessibility, economy, culture, or otherfactors. Data mining can be included in combined or separate groups ofsocial network profiles according to their geography in order todiscover information about a place. This results in keywords associatedwith a specific location and provides an automated way to describe aplace in an up to date fashion based upon its current local residents.Location-Based Social Network (LBSN) profiles from four different placesare analyzed here and the results are presented as they relate to space,time, and activities. An inventory of digital content is supplied,wherein at least part of the inventory is pre-stored on a clientcomputer. The inventory includes at least one asset, collateral for anasset, or advertisement. Information about the inventory is displayed toa user of the client computer and user data is collected about the userbased on their actions with regard to the information about theinventory. Optionally, a user profile is then constructed based on theuser data.

An advantage of the present invention is that it provides behaviortracking and user profiling at the speed of digital electronics, yetoperates in the context of the conventional, time proven, widelyunderstood, and trusted transactional interrelation of consumer,financial intermediary, and vendor.

Another advantage of the invention is that it may be entirely automatedand may employ communications with outside services which may also beentirely automated.

And, another advantage of the invention is that it is efficient andeconomical for all involved. The initial user being tracked and profiledare not burdened and the end users of the information provided canautomatically and cheaply obtain the data being generated. Anotheradvantage of the invention is that it is an exceptional educationaltool.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome clear to those skilled in the art in view of the description ofthe best presently known mode of carrying out the invention and theindustrial applicability of the preferred embodiment as described hereinand as illustrated in the several figures of the drawings.

Social Networking Integration: The present invention can also provide incertain embodiments integrated social plugins with “live social feeds”from social networking giants Facebook™ and Twitter™, e.g., but notlimited to Facebook™ and Twitter™, into its website(s), which allowsSocial Shoppers to interact and share the latest ad links, promotions,online coupons, mobile services, Educational related Products, Goods,and/or Services with their friends, acquaintances, strangers, family,business associates, and others. Tapping into the power of socialnetworking users through social networking integration will help usersof the present invention connect with thousands or millions of usersaround the world in real time. Twitter™ the latest social networkingphenomenon, enables its users to send and read other users messagescalled “tweets.” The present invention provides opportunities to useopen source technology to rapidly grow its Social Shoppers around theworld by utilizing social networking integration and developing socialapplications with feeds” from social networking sites Facebook™ andTwitter™ into its website and encouraging Social Shoppers to share thelatest products or services or deals with their friends in these popularsocial networks.

A technique, method, apparatus, and system are described to providerelated social/geo/promo link promotional data sets with correlated orrelated broad or alternative categories to be displayed with web pagecontent for view by a user. A composite correlation measure between twosocial/geo/promo link categories can be determined, where the compositecorrelation measure is one of a maximum, a minimum, or a combination ofseparate correlation criteria for a first social/geo/promo link categorywith a second social/geo/promo link category. In general, in one aspect,a method is provided. The method includes selecting a firstsocial/geo/promo link category for a first position of asocial/geo/promo link promotional data set. One or more secondsocial/geo/promo link categories are identified using one or morecorrelation criteria, where at least one second social/geo/promo linkcategory has one or more correlation criteria associated with the firstsocial/geo/promo link category.

Implementations can include one or more of the following features. Athird social/geo/promo link category can be selected for a secondposition of the social/geo/promo link promotional data set, where thethird social/geo/promo link category is different from the one or moreidentified second social/geo/promo link categories.

The social/geo/promo link promotional data set can be associated with aweb page, and the social/geo/promo link categories can be ordered byrelevance to the web page. Identifying one or more secondsocial/geo/promo link categories using one or more correlation criteriacan include identifying one or more social/geo/promo link categorieshaving a correlation measure that is less than a correlation threshold.The social/geo/promo link categories can be associated with one or morecategory identifiers, and at least one of the one or more correlationcriteria of a second social/geo/promo link category can be a measure ofthe correlation between a category identifier associated with the secondsocial/geo/promo link category and a category identifier associated withthe first social/geo/promo link category. At least one secondsocial/geo/promo link category can have a separate correlation measurefor at least one pair-wise combination of a category identifierassociated with the at least one second social/geo/promo link categoryand a category identifier associated with the first social/geo/promolink category. The at least one second social/geo/promo link categorycan have a composite correlation measure, where the compositecorrelation measure can be one of a maximum, a minimum, or a combinationof the separate correlation criteria for the at least one secondsocial/geo/promo link category. Identifying one or more social/geo/promolink categories having a correlation measure that is less than acorrelation threshold can include identifying one or moresocial/geo/promo link categories having a composite correlation measurethat is less than a correlation threshold.

In general, in one aspect, a method is provided. The method includesselecting a first social/geo/promo link category for a first position ofa social/geo/promo link promotional data set, where the firstsocial/geo/promo link category is in a set of candidate social/geo/promolink categories. For at least one empty position in the social/geo/promolink promotional data set, social/geo/promo link categories having acorrelation measure that is less than a correlation threshold areidentified, where the identified social/geo/promo link categories are inthe set of candidate social/geo/promo link categories, and at least onesocial/geo/promo link category in the set of candidate social/geo/promolink categories has one or more correlation criteria associated with amost recently selected social/geo/promo link category. For at least oneempty position in the social/geo/promo link promotional data set, a nextsocial/geo/promo link category for a next empty position of thesocial/geo/promo link promotional data set is selected, where the nextsocial/geo/promo link category is in the set of candidatesocial/geo/promo link categories.

Implementations can include one or more of the following features. Theidentified social/geo/promo link categories can be removed from the setof candidate social/geo/promo link categories. The selectedsocial/geo/promo link categories can be removed from the set ofcandidate social/geo/promo link categories. The social/geo/promo linkcategories in the set of candidate social/geo/promo link categories canbe associated with a web page, and the social/geo/promo link categoriesin the set of candidate social/geo/promo link categories can be orderedby relevance of the social/geo/promo link categories to the web page.

In general, in one aspect, a method is provided. The method includes,for a set of candidate social/geo/promo link categories and at least onesocial/geo/promo link promotional data set associated with a web page,selecting a first social/geo/promo link category for a first position ofthe social/geo/promo link promotional data set, where the firstsocial/geo/promo link category is in the set of candidatesocial/geo/promo link categories.

For at least one empty position in the social/geo/promo link promotionaldata set, social/geo/promo link categories having a correlation measurethat is greater than a correlation threshold are identified, where theidentified social/geo/promo link categories are in the set of candidatesocial/geo/promo link categories, and at least one social/geo/promo linkcategory in the set of candidate social/geo/promo link categories hasone or more correlation criteria associated with a most recentlyselected social/geo/promo link category. For at least one empty positionin the social/geo/promo link promotional data set, a nextsocial/geo/promo link category is selected for a next empty position ofthe social/geo/promo link promotional data set, where the nextsocial/geo/promo link category is in the set of candidatesocial/geo/promo link categories.

Implementations can include the following feature. The identifiedsocial/geo/promo link categories can be removed from the set ofcandidate social/geo/promo link categories before selecting a nextsocial/geo/promo link category for a next empty position of thesocial/geo/promo link promotional data set, and at least one removedidentified social/geo/promo link category can be added to the set ofcandidate social/geo/promo link categories before selecting a firstsocial/geo/promo link category for a first position of a nextsocial/geo/promo link promotional data set.

Other implementations are disclosed, including implementations directedto systems and computer-readable medium.

Particular embodiments of the subject matter described in thisspecification can be implemented to realize one or more of the followingadvantages. The quality of related social/geo/promo link promotionaldata sets and user experience can be improved by increasing the varietyof categories displayed in a single related social/geo/promo linkpromotional data set. When multiple related social/geo/promo linkpromotional data sets are to be displayed, individual relatedsocial/geo/promo link promotional data sets can include similarcategories while sets of categories can be diversified across themultiple related social/geo/promo link promotional data sets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic and block diagram view of an electronicEducational related Product, Good or Service with /GeospatialMapping/Company-Local Information/Social Networking/Communities(“EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN”) information and/or product/good/service distributionsystem, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram showing, in greater detail, adatabase server portion of the main server system shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3A-3B illustrate a screen display defining an interface associatedwith a client system portion, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a simplified flowchart diagram view illustrating interactionsbetween the client system, and the main server system, according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a simplified flowchart diagram view showing the steps forregistration of a new user on the main server system, according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIGS. 7-8 are simplified flowchart diagram views showing, in greaterdetail, the steps of updating the master category list, plugins, andbrand logo information, respectively, that are shown in block diagramform in FIG. 4, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a simplified flowchart diagram view showing, in greaterdetail, the step of updating advertising data that is shown in blockdiagram form in FIG. 4, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a simplified flowchart diagram view showing the stepsinvolved in obtaining a client script, according to an exemplaryembodiment;

FIGS. 11-12 are simplified flowchart diagram views showing alternateactions taken by the client system in response to selection by the userof a logo pane and an advertising pane, respectively, according toexemplary embodiments;

FIG. 13 is a simplified flowchart diagram view showing the stepsexecuted by the client system when a user selects an item fromEPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information and/or data subcategory list, according toan exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a simplified flowchart diagram view showing the stepsexecuted by the client system when EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN product, good and/orservice is selected and added to a cart, according to an exemplaryembodiment;

FIGS. 15A/B are flow diagrams of processes for controlling the number ofclicks to a clickable advertisement, according to exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 16 is another flow diagram of the process for controlling thenumber of clicks to a clickable advertisement, according to an exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 17 illustrates a screen display defining an interface associatedwith a client system portion, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary implementation of ageospatial decision management system for implementing a geographicinformation system over a network.

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram of a geospatial decision managementsystem depicting exemplary implementations of technical and managementinterface tools available to a client user.

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram of additional components of a geospatialdecision management system for implementing access control topresentation of geospatial attributes within a network.

FIG. 21 is a flow diagram of exemplary operations for implementingaccess control to presentation of geospatial attributes within ageospatial decision management system.

FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary implementation of ageneral purpose computer system that that can be used to implementvarious aspects of a geospatial decision management system, includingaccess control.

FIG. 23 is flow chart and a list of representative educational relatedProducts and services that can be provided in combination withgeospatial mapping, socially responsible information, local, global andcompany information, social networking, and charity/aid, according tothe present invention.

FIG. 24 presents a flow chart showing a typical transaction for thepurchase online coupons, mobile services, Educational related Products,Goods, and/or Services and more that provides a portion of each saleshall be attributed to microloans or microcredit, humanitarian aid andsupport other worldly causes through charitable donations or sustainablegifts. In addition, users will also be able to donate money to a worthycause through the Shopping Cart or purchasing a online coupons, mobileservices, educational related Products, Good and/or Services, on the“Giving Back” Layer; “View Social Earth ad links, promotions, onlinecoupons, mobile services, Educational related Products, Goods, and/orServices, with information, optionally about microloans or microcredit,humanitarian aid and support other worldly causes through charitabledonations or sustainable gifts that will help those in need around theworld by geo-target location based technologies including GPS and GIS oranywhere in the world on the present inventions unique Live View of theplanet.

FIG. 25 is a block diagram of an example online advertising system.

FIG. 26A illustrates an example of a related social/geo/promo linkpromotional data set provided with web page content.

FIG. 26B illustrates an example of multiple related social/geo/promolink promotional data sets provided with the web page content.

FIG. 27A illustrates an example implementation of a relatedsocial/geo/promo link promotional data set with correlated alternativecategories provided with web page content.

FIG. 27A illustrates an example implementation of multiple relatedsocial/geo/promo link promotional data sets with clustered categoriesprovided with web page content.

FIG. 28 is a block diagram of an example implementation of anadvertising management system of FIG. 1 that provides relatedsocial/geo/promo link promotional data sets with correlated broad andalternative categories.

FIG. 29 is a block diagram of an example implementation of thesocial/geo/promo link server of FIG. 4.

FIG. 30 is a flow diagram of an example process for providing a relatedsocial/geo/promo link promotional data set with correlated broadcategories.

FIG. 31 is a flow diagram of an example process for providing multiplerelated social/geo/promo link promotional data sets with clusteredcategories.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides in one aspect a system and method forproviding combined technologies for social networking interactions usingtracking, predicting, and implementing online consumer communications,browsing behavior, buying patterns, and advertisements and affiliateadvertising, for ad links, promotions, online coupons, mobile services,for Educational related Products, Goods, and/or Services for relatedcompany and local information on a three dimensional geospatial platformusing geospatial mapping technology, company-local information, socialnetworking, and social networking communities (“EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN”). Thepresent invention provides one or more of a method, apparatus, or systemto provide educational related and integrated social networking, realtime geospatial mapping, geo-target location based technologiesincluding GPS and GIS or mobile device and receiving current location ofuser's electronic device and multiple points of interest, cloud-typeconfiguration storing and handling user data across multipleapplications, generating user behavior data and ad links, promotions(“social/geo/promo”) links on a website for any product, good orservice, including social/geo/promo data sets for user customized visualdisplays showing 3D map presentations with correlated or related broador alternative categories of social/geo/promo links to be displayed withweb page content for view by an end user. In one implementation, amethod is provided. The method includes selecting a firstsocial/geo/promo link category for a first position of asocial/geo/promo link promotional data set to be displayed on aninteractive 3D geospatial mapping display for promotion or sale ofonline products, goods or services with social networking andeducational related company and local information for selected worldwidelocations. One or more second social/geo/promo link categories areidentified using one or more correlation criteria, where at least onesecond social/geo/promo link category has one or more correlationcriteria associated with the first social/geo/promo link category. Thepresent invention provides in one aspect a system and method forproviding social networking and social networking interactions usingcombined social behavior tracking, online surveillance and web botsoftware technologies via a mobile device or computer for trackingonline consumer behavior and data, cookies, embedded advertisements,predicting online consumer behavior, buying patterns, monitoring onlineactivity, location, online communications, search inquires, socialnetworking, social plugins, ad links, promotions, social applications,purchasing, behavior and buying patterns, consumer address books &contact lists, blogs, chat rooms, friends, acquaintances and strangers,instant messaging, text chat, internet forum, service providers, traveland hospitality services, real estate, educational services, sports andsporting events interest, ancillary services (as defined herein or asknown in the art) and delivery system for behavior targeting andfiltering of ad links, promotions, mobile services, Educational relatedProducts, Goods, and/or Services, for related company information on athree dimensional geospatial platform using multi-dimensional andscalable geospatial mapping associated with entities providing and/ormembers of the service and/or social networking for a geospatial website(accessible via a mobile device or computer) for a multidimensionalrepresentation of information and/or scalable versions of web and mobiledevice content for the delivery of Educational related Products, Goods,and/or Services with /Geospatial Mapping/Company-LocalInformation/Social Networking/Communities (“EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN”) on a threedimensional geospatial platform using geospatial mapping technology.

Definitions

Promotions/Promoting As used herein the term “promoting” or “promoting”means providing any type of information relating to any product, goodsor service, including, but not limited to providing an end user with oneor more of publicity, advertising, auctions, bidding, coupons,discounts, company or local information, affiliate or related companyinformation, local information, products, goods, or services, andrelated social networking, profiles, online behavior and prediction,scalable geospatial mapping, customized end user webpages or displays,and end user interactions, wherein the providing of information isthrough any form of electronic communication involving the use of one ormore of a computer related system, computer readable medium, internetaccess, mobile device, computer related access, or other electroniccommunication.

Products, Goods, and/or Services means any product, good or servicedescribed herein, or as known in the art: Non-limiting examples ofProducts, Goods & Services provided by the present invention, caninclude, but are not limited to: search engines; online ad links,promotions, online coupons, mobile services, entertainment shopping,penny auctions or online auctions, advertisements and affiliateadvertising or services, including without limitation, for such items ase-commerce, media and entertainment, educational, personal & financialnetwork, travel & hospitality services, real estate, educationalservices, sports and sporting events interest, services, serviceproviders, online dating, gaming, retail stores, virtual communities andvirtual goods, real estate information on market trends, mortgage quotesauto loans, insurance and home equity loans; mortgage rates to refinanceyour home, lender quotes, real estate properties, advertisers, serviceproviders and business owners, auto quotes, car loans; messaging, userprofiles; RSS links with e.g., news feeds, weather, educational, mediaand entertainment news and financial markets, real estate (e.g. vacantland, residential, commercial, recreational, retail, shopping malls,hotels, motels, golf courses, resorts, marinas, industrial, vacation,time shares, condominiums, multifamily, and other types of real estate,etc.), educational services, sports and sporting events interests,ancillary services e.g. (e.g. brokers, agents, relocation services,internet marketing, concierge, transportation, entertainment, travel andhospitality services, lenders, appraisers, education, developers,contractors, inspectors, home improvements/remodeling, basement designs,landscaping, home warranties, insurance, indoor and outdoor furniture,fixtures, windows, siding, roofing, heating/cooling, solar, plumbing,electrical, mechanical, and similar types) and delivery system forbehavior targeting and filtering of ad links, promotions.

Educational related refers to anything that can be included in one ormore educational related activities, e.g., education related products,goods or services that can include any known or potential educationalactivity, institution, company, agency, entity, and the like, at anylevel, e.g., high school, college, university, recreational,professional, local, city, county, state, region, Province, country,union, league, associated, or group of countries, continental,hemisphere, or any other grouping of any of the above, e.g., company,collegiate or professional. Educational refers to any type oreducational endeavor. Educational related products, goods, or servicescan include one or more of Branches of education, e.g., such as, but notlimited to, by level, sector, specialization or department: Education bylevel, e.g., Preschool education, Primary education, Secondaryeducation, Higher education; Autodidacticism; Education by sector:Academia, Adult education, Alternative education, Public education,Private education; Education by specialization or department:Agricultural education, Art education, Business education, Chemistryeducation, Distance education, Gifted education, Language education,Legal education, Mathematics education, Medical education, Musiceducation, Physics education, Religious education, Science education,Special education, Sex education, Vocational education, which canoptionally include, but is not limited to, Cabinet maker, Dogger,Waterproofing, Stonework, Building, Bricklayer, Carpentry, Carpet layer,Cement Mason, Cladding, Drainage, Drywall Hanger, Electrician, ElevatorMechanic, Excavator, Fencing, Firestopping, Fireproofing, Groundwork,Tree Service, Flooring, Framing, Glazing, Hod carrier, Heavy EquipmentOperator, Heating, Ventilation, and Air-conditioning, Iron worker,Laborer, Landscaping, Low Voltage Installer, landscaper, Insulation,Joinery, Masonry, Painting and Decorating, Pipe fitter, Plastering,Plumbing, Project Manager, Roofing, Rural building, Scaffolder, Sealer,Sheet Metal, Site Manager, Steel fixer, Stonemason, Tile Layer (Tile),taper[disambiguation needed], Teamster, Vinyl layer, Welder, FinishCarpenter, Well Driller, Window installer; Exercise & Health; Academicdisciplines: Humanities, e.g., History, e.g., African history, Americanhistory, Ancient history, Argentine history, Chinese history, Culturalhistory, Diplomatic history, Economic history, Ethno history, Europeanhistory, Greek History, History of science and technology, IranianHistory, Indian History, Indonesian History, Intellectual history,Military history, Modern history, World history, Linguistics, e.g.,Languages, e.g., Ancient, Classical. Romance, Slavic, Asian,Indo-European, languages and the like, Standard English, German,Business English, World English's, Modern languages, Linguistics: e.g.,Applied Linguistics, Computational linguistics/Natural languageprocessing, Discourse analysis, Etymology, Historical linguistics,History of linguistics, Interlinguistics, Morphology, Philology,Phonetics, Phonology, Pragmatics, Semantics, Semiotics,Sociolinguistics, Syntax, Composition studies, Rhetoric; Literature:e.g., World literatures, Arabic literature, Argentine literature,Bengali literature, Bulgarian literature, Bosnian literature, Classics,Comparative literature, Chinese literature, English literature Americanliterature African American literature, Asian American literature,Jewish American literature, Southern literature, Australian literature,British literature Scottish literature, Welsh literature, Canadianliterature, Indian literature, Irish literature, New Zealand literature,Medieval literature, Post-colonial literature, Post-modern literature,West Indian literature, French literature, Gaelic literature, Germanliterature and Austrian literature, Hebrew literature, Hindi literature,Italian literature, Japanese literature, Korean literature, LatinAmerican literature, Nigerian literature, Persian literature, Polishliterature, Portuguese and Brazilian literature, Russian literature,Serbian literature, Spanish literature, Yiddish literature, Tamilliterature, Welsh Literature; Literary theory, Critical theory, Literarycriticism, Poetics, Rhetoric, Creative writing, e.g., Creativenonfiction, Fiction writing, Non-fiction writing, Literary journalism,Poetry composition, Screenwriting, Playwriting, Performing art and, Artsadministration; e.g., Music, e.g., Performance, Recorded, Live: e.g.,Alternative, Music Accompanying, Chamber music, Children's Music, Churchmusic, Classical, Comedy, Christian & Gospel, Dance, Disney, EasyListening, Electronic, Fitness & Workout, Rock, Blues, Jazz, HipHop/Rap, Holiday, Techno, Country, Karaoke, Latino, New Age, Opera,R&B/Soul, Reggae, Soundtrack, World, Bluegrass, Folk, Cultural, Ethnic,Musical composition, Conducting: Choral conducting, Orchestralconducting, Wind ensemble conducting, Early music, Jazz studies, Musiceducation, Music history, Music theory, Musicology Ethnomusicology;Organ and historical keyboards, Piano, Strings, harp, and guitar,Singing, Woodwinds, brass, and percussion, Recording, Orchestralstudies, DANCE, e.g., Dance Choreography, Dance notation, Ethnochoreology, History of dance; Theatre: e.g., History, Acting, Directing,Stage design, Dramaturgy, Playwriting, Scenography, Musical theatre,Film: e.g., Animation, Filmmaking, Film criticism, Production,Management, Film theory, Oral literature, Public speaking, Performancepoetry, Storytelling; Philosophy, e.g., Meta-philosophy, MetaphysicsOntology, Teleology, Philosophy of mind Philosophy of artificialintelligence, Philosophy of perception, Philosophy of pain, Philosophyof space and time, Philosophy of Action, Epistemology, Ethics Normativeethics, Meta-ethics, Value theory, Moral psychology, Applied ethicsAnimal rights, Bioethics, Environmental ethics, Aesthetics/Philosophy ofArt, Social philosophy and political philosophy Feminist philosophy,Anarchism, Marxism, Philosophical traditions and schools Africanphilosophy, Aristotelianism, Analytic philosophy, Continentalphilosophy, Eastern philosophy, Feminist philosophy, History ofphilosophy Ancient philosophy, Medieval philosophy, Modern philosophy,Contemporary philosophy, Logic Philosophical logic, Mathematical logic,Applied philosophy, Philosophy of education, Philosophy of history,Philosophy of religion, Philosophy of language, Philosophy of law,Philosophy of mathematics, Philosophy of music, Philosophy of sciencePhilosophy of social science, Philosophy of physics, Philosophy ofbiology, Philosophy of Chemistry, Philosophy of economics, Philosophy ofPsychology, Philosophy of engineering, Systems philosophy, Religion:e.g., Abrahamic religions Baha'i Faith, Christianity Christian TheologyBibliology, Hermeneutics, Theology Proper Christology, Pneumatology,Theological anthropology, Soteriology, Nomology, Ecclesiology,Eschatology, Islam/Islamic studies, Judaism/Jewish studies, Indianreligions Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, Taoist religions Chinesefolk religion, Confucianism, Shinto, Taoism, Other religions: Africanreligions, Ancient Egyptian religion, Native American religions,Gnosticism, Esotericism, New religious movements, Paganism,Neo-Paganism, Shamanism, Earth based religions, Native religions,pantheistic religions, witchcraft, occult studies and practices, Wiccanreligions, medium and channeling practices and studies, Sumerianreligion, Zoroastrianism, Comparative religion, Mythology and Folklore,Irreligion Agnostic, Atheism and religious humanism; New Age and otherbeliefs: spirituality, ascension, consciousness, metaphysics,numerology, past lives, reincarnation, aliens, alien technology, innerearth, outer earth, UFO's, life on other planets, moon construct; Visualarts: e.g., Art history, Drawing and Painting: e.g., Calligraphy,Connoisseurship, Creative arts, Drawing, Fine arts, Painting,Filmmaking, Photography, Mixed Media, Printmaking, Studio art,Sculpture, Art conservation; Social sciences: e.g., Anthropology: e.g.,Biological anthropology, Forensic anthropology, Gene-culturecoevolution, Human behavioral ecology, Human evolution, Medicalanthropology, Paleoanthropology, Population genetics, Primatology,Anthropological linguistics Synchronic linguistics (or Descriptivelinguistics), Diachronic linguistics (or Historical linguistics), Ethnolinguistics, Sociolinguistics, Cultural anthropology, Anthropology ofreligion, Economic anthropology, Ethnography, Ethno history, Ethnology,Ethnomusicology, Folklore, Mythology, Political anthropology,Psychological anthropology, Archaeology: e.g., Classical archaeology,Egyptology, Experimental archaeology, Maritime archaeology, Near Easternarchaeology, Paleoanthropology, Prehistoric archaeology: Area studies:e.g., African studies, American studies Appalachian studies, Canadianstudies, Latin American studies, Asian studies, Celtic studies, Europeanstudies, German studies, Indology (Indian studies), Iranian studies,Japanology (Japanese studies), Korean studies, Sinology (Chinesestudies), Scandinavian studies, Slavic studies, 3.4 Cultural and ethnicstudies, Asian studies, Asian American studies, Black studies or AfricanAmerican studies, Chicano studies, Childhood studies, Latino studies,Native American studies; Economics: e.g., Agricultural economics,Behavioral economics, Bio economics, Complexity economics, Computationaleconomics, Consumer economics, Development economics, Ecologicaleconomics, Econometrics, Economic geography, Economic history, Economicsociology, Economic systems, Energy economics, Entrepreneurialeconomics, Environmental economics, Evolutionary economics, Experimentaleconomics, Feminist economics, Financial economics, Game theory, Greeneconomics, Growth economics, Human development theory, Industrialorganization, Information economics, Institutional economics,International economics, Islamic economics, Labor economics, Law andeconomics, Macroeconomics, Managerial economics, Mathematical economics,Microeconomics, Monetary economics, Neuroeconomics, Political economy,Public finance, Public economics, Real estate economics, Resourceeconomics, Social choice theory, Socialist economics, Socioeconomics,Transport economics, Welfare economics: Gender and sexuality studies:e.g. Feminine psychology, Gender studies/Gender theory, Heterosexism,Human sexual behavior, Human sexuality, Masculine psychology, Men'sstudies, Queer studies/Queer theory, Sex education, Sexology, Women'sstudies; Geography: e.g., Cartography, Human geography Culturalgeography Feminist geography, Economic geography Development geography,Historical geography, Time geography, Political geography & geopoliticsMilitary geography, Strategic geography, Population geography, Socialgeography Behavioral geography, Children's geographies, Healthgeography, Tourism geography, Urban geography, Environmental geography,Physical geography Biogeography, Climatology Paleoclimatology, Coastalgeography, Geomorphology, Geodesy, Hydrology/Hydrography Glaciology,Limnology, Oceanography, Landscape ecology, Paleogeography, Regionalgeography, Remote Sensing, World Geography, oceans, rivers, maps,volcanoes, seas, longitude and latitude, continents: Political science:American politics, Canadian politics, Civics, Comparative politics,Geopolitics (Political geography), International relations,International organizations, Peace and conflict studies, Policy studies,Political behavior, Political culture, Political economy, Politicalhistory, Political philosophy, Psephology, Public administrationNonprofit administration, Non-governmental organization (NGO)administration, Public policy, Social choice theory; Psychology: e.g.,Abnormal psychology, Applied psychology, Biological psychology, Clinicalpsychology, Cognitive psychology, Community psychology, Comparativepsychology, Conservation Psychology, Consumer psychology, Counselingpsychology, Cultural psychology, Differential psychology, Developmentalpsychology, Educational psychology, Environmental psychology,Evolutionary psychology, Experimental psychology, Forensic psychology,Health psychology, Legal psychology, Media psychology, Medicalpsychology, Military psychology, Neuropsychology, Occupational healthpsychology, Organizational psychology, Parapsychology, Personalitypsychology, Political psychology, Positive psychology, Psychometrics,Psychology of religion, Psychophysics, Quantitative psychology, Schoolpsychology, Social psychology, Sport psychology; Sociology: e.g.,Applied sociology Political sociology, Public sociology, Socialengineering, Leisure studies, Collective behavior Social movements,Community informatics Social network analysis, Comparative sociology,Conflict theory, Cultural studies, Criminology/Criminal justice,Demography/Population, Environmental sociology, Feminist sociology,Future studies, Human ecology, Interactionism Phenomenology,Ethnomethodology, Symbolic interactionism, Social constructionism,Medical sociology, Military sociology, Organizational studies, Sciencestudies/Science and technology studies, Sexology, Social capital, Socialcontrol Pure sociology, Social economy, Social philosophy, Socialpsychology, Social policy, Social research Computational sociology,Economic sociology/Socioeconomics Economic development, Socialdevelopment, Sociology of culture, Sociology of deviance, Sociology ofeducation, Sociology of gender, Sociology of the family, Sociology ofknowledge, Sociology of law, Sociology of religion, Sociology of sport,Sociology of work, Social theory, Social stratification, Sociologicaltheory, Sociobiology, Sociocybernetics, Sociolinguistics, Urban studiesor Urban sociology/Rural sociology, Visual sociology; Natural sciences,e.g., Space science: e.g., Astrobiology, Astronomy Observationalastronomy Radio astronomy, Microwave astronomy, Infrared astronomy,Optical astronomy, UV astronomy, X-ray astronomy, Gamma ray astronomy,Astrophysics Gravitational astronomy Black holes, Interstellar medium,Numerical simulations in Astrophysical plasma, Galaxy formation andevolution, High-energy astrophysics, Hydrodynamics, Magnetohydrodynamics, Star formation, Physical cosmology, Stellar astrophysicsHelioseismology, Stellar evolution, Stellar nucleosynthesis, Planetaryscience (alternatively, a part of earth science); Earth sciences; e.g.,Edaphology, Environmental science, Environmental chemistry, Gemology,Geodesy, Geography, Geology, Geochemistry, Geomorphology, Geophysics,Glaciology, Hydrogeology, Hydrology, Meteorology, Mineralogy,Oceanography, Pedology, Paleontology Paleobiology, Planetary science(alternatively, a part of space science), Sedimentology, Soil science,Speleology, Tectonics, Volcanology; Ecology; e.g. scientific study ofinteractions of organisms with one another and with the physical andchemical environment. Ecology is a science that contributes considerablyto our understanding of evolution. Saving our Planet's ecosystem; Lifesciences: e.g., Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, Biology Aerobiology,Anatomy Comparative anatomy, Human anatomy, Botany Ethno botany,Phycology, Cell biology, Chronobiology, Computational biology,Cryobiology, Developmental biology Embryology, Teratology, Ecology Agroecology, Human ecology, Landscape ecology, Genetics, Behavioralgenetics, Molecular genetics, Population genetics, Endocrinology,Evolutionary biology, Human biology, Marine biology, Mathematicalbiology, Microbiology, Molecular biology, Nutrition, NeuroscienceBehavioral neuroscience, Paleobiology Paleontology, Systems biology,Virology Molecular virology, Xenobiology, Zoology Animal communications,Entomology, Ethology, Herpetology, Ichthyology, Oology, Ornithology,Primatology, Zootomy, Biophysics, Limnology, Linnaean taxonomy,Mycology, Parasitology, Pathology, Physiology Human physiology Exercisephysiology, Systematics (Taxonomy); Chemistry: e.g., Analyticalchemistry, Biochemistry, Cheminformatics, Computational chemistry,Materials science, Mathematical chemistry, Quantum chemistry, Inorganicchemistry, Organic chemistry, Physical chemistry, Theoretical chemistry,Interface and colloid science: Physics: e.g., Acoustics, AppliedPhysics, Astrophysics, Atomic, molecular, and optical physics,Biophysics, Computational physics, Condensed matter physics, Cryogenics,Electromagnetism, Elementary particle physics, Fluid dynamics,Geophysics, Materials science, Mathematical physics, Medical physics,Mechanics, Molecular physics, Newtonian dynamics, Nuclear physics,Optics, Plasma physics, Quantum physics, Solid mechanics, Solid statephysics, Statistical mechanics, Theoretical physics, Thermodynamics,Vehicle dynamics; Formal sciences: e.g., Formal systems, logic,mathematics, theoretical computer science, information theory, Gametheory, systems theory, decision theory, linguistics; Computer sciences:e.g., Theory of computation Automata theory (Formal languages),Computability theory, Computational complexity theory, Concurrencytheory, Algorithms Randomized algorithms, Distributed algorithms,Parallel algorithms, Data structures, Computer architecture VLSI design,Operating systems, Computer communications (networks) Informationtheory, Internet, World wide web, Wireless computing (Mobile computing),Ubiquitous computing, Cloud computing, Computer security and reliabilityCryptography, Fault-tolerant computing, Distributed computing Gridcomputing, Parallel computing High-performance computing, Quantumcomputing, Computer graphics Image processing, Scientific visualization,Computational geometry, Software engineering Formal methods (Formalverification), Programming languages Programming paradigmsObject-oriented programming, Functional programming, Concurrentprogramming, Program semantics, Type theory, Compilers, Informationsystems (Business informatics) Information technology, Managementinformation systems, Health informatics, Human-computer interaction,Information science Data management, Data mining, Database Relationaldatabase, Distributed database, Object database, Information retrieval,Information management, Knowledge management, Multimedia, hypermediaSound and music computing, Artificial intelligence Cognitive scienceAutomated reasoning, Machine learning Artificial neural network, Supportvector machine, Natural language processing (Computational linguistics),Computer vision, Expert systems, Robotics, Computing in Mathematics,Natural sciences, Engineering and Medicine Numerical analysis, Algebraic(symbolic) computation, Computational number theory, Computationalmathematics, Scientific computing (Computational science), Computationalbiology (bioinformatics), Computational physics, Computationalchemistry, Computational neuroscience, Computer-aided engineering Finiteelement analysis, Computational fluid dynamics, Computing in Socialsciences, Arts and Humanities, Professions Computational economics,Computational sociology, Computational finance, The Digital Humanities(Humanities computing), Computer and society History of computerhardware, History of computer science, Humanistic informatics, Communityinformatics; Logic: e.g., Mathematical logic Set theory, Proof theory,Model theory, Recursion theory, Modal logic, Intuitionistic logic,Philosophical logic Logical reasoning, Modal logic Deontic logic,Doxastic logic, Logic in computer science Programming languagesemantics, Formal methods (Formal verification), Type theory, Logicprogramming, Multi-valued logic Fuzzy logic; Mathematics: e.g., AlgebraGroup theory, Group representation, Ring theory Commutative algebra,Noncommutative algebra, Field theory, Linear algebra (Vector space),Multilinear algebra, Lie algebra, Associative algebra, Non-associativealgebra, Universal algebra, Homological algebra, Differential algebra,Lattice theory (Order theory), Representation theory, K-theory, Categorytheory Topos theory, Analysis Real analysis Calculus, Complex analysis,Functional analysis Operator theory, Non-standard analysis, Harmonicanalysis, Fourier analysis, p-adic analysis, Ordinary differentialequations, Partial differential equations, Probability theory Measuretheory Integral geometry, Ergodic theory, Stochastic process, Geometryand Topology General topology, Algebraic topology, Geometric topology,Differential topology, Algebraic geometry, Differential geometry,Projective geometry, Affine geometry, Non-Euclidean geometry, Convexgeometry, Discrete geometry, Integral geometry, Noncommutative geometry,Number theory Analytic number theory, Algebraic number theory, Geometricnumber theory, Logic and Foundations of mathematics Set theory, Prooftheory, Model theory, Recursion theory, Modal logic, Intuitionisticlogic, Applied mathematics Statistics Mathematical statistics,Econometrics, Actuarial science, Demography, Approximation theory,Numerical analysis, Operations research Mathematical optimization,Linear programming, Dynamic programming, Assignment problem, Decisionanalysis, Inventory theory, Scheduling, Real options analysis, Systemsanalysis, Stochastic processes, Optimal maintenance, Dynamical systemsChaos theory, Fractal geometry, Mathematical physics, Quantum mechanics,Quantum field theory, Quantum gravity String theory, Statisticalmechanics, Theory of computation, Computational complexity theory,Information theory, Cryptography, Combinatorics Coding theory, Graphtheory, Game theory; Statistics: e.g., Computational statistics, Datamining, Regression, Simulation Bootstrap (statistics), Design ofexperiments Block design and Analysis of variance, Response surfacemethodology, Sample Survey Sampling theory, Statistical modelingBiostatistics Epidemiology, Multivariate analysis Structural equationmodel, Time series, Reliability theory, Quality control, Statisticaltheory Decision theory, Mathematical statistics Probability, Surveymethodology; Systems science: e.g., Complex systems, Cybernetics,Control theory Control engineering, Control systems, Dynamical systems,Operations research, Systems dynamics, Systems engineering Systemsanalysis, Systems theory Developmental systems theory, General systemstheory, Mathematical system theory. The term Educational also includes,but Is not limited to education as it relates to any profession, eitherpreparatory, qualifications, licensing, degrees, continuing education,or any other type of educational related, where such profession caninclude but is not limited to: Accountants, Actuaries, Advocates,Architects, Archivists, Pilots, Chefs, Dentists, Diplomats, Doctors,Engineers, Financial analysts, Journalists, Lawyers, Optometrists,Nurses, Pharmacists, Philosophers, Physicians, Professors,Psychologists, Scientists, Social Workers, Surgeons, Veterinarians, aswell as jobs, professions, or work related to: Applied sciences, Appliedengineering, Applied linguistics, Applied mathematics, Applied physics,Applied chemistry, Archaeology, Artificial intelligence, Ceramicengineering, Computing technology, Electronics, Energy technology,Energy storage, Environmental engineering science, Engineering physics,Engineering technology, Environmental technology, Fisheries science,Forensic science, Forestry science, Materials science and engineering,Medicine, Microtechnology, Nanotechnology, Nuclear technology, Optics,Security engineering, Software engineering, Agriculture, Agroecology,Agronomy, Animal husbandry (Animal science) Beekeeping (Apiculture),Agrology, Entomology, Agricultural economics, Agricultural engineeringBiological systems engineering, Food engineering, Aquaculture, Enology,Food science, Horticulture, Hydrology, Plant science Pomology,Viticulture, 6.2 Architecture and Design, Architecture and relateddesign Architecture, Urban planning (urban design), Interior design(interior architecture), Landscape architecture (landscape planning),Historic preservation, Visual communication Graphic design Type design,User interface design, Technical drawing, Industrial design (productdesign) Ergonomics, Game design, Toy and amusement design, Fashiondesign, Textile design; Business: e.g., Accounting scholarship, Businessadministration, Business analysis, Business ethics, Business Law,E-Business, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Industrial and labor relationsCollective bargaining, Human resources, Organizational studies, Laboreconomics, Labor history, Information systems, International Trade,Marketing, Purchasing, Risk management and insurance, Systems science;Divinity: e.g., relating to Canon law, Church history, Field ministryPastoral counseling, Pastoral theology, Religious education techniques,Homiletics, Liturgy, Sacred music, Scriptural study and languagesBiblical Hebrew, Biblical studies/Sacred Scripture, New Testament Greek,Latin, Old Church Slavonic, Theology Dogmatic theology, Ecclesiology,Sacramental theology, Systematic theology; Education: e.g., Consumereducation, Critical pedagogy, Curriculum and instruction AlternativeEducation, Elementary education, Secondary education, Higher education,Mastery learning, Cooperative learning, Agricultural education, Arteducation, Bilingual education, Chemistry education, Counseloreducation, Language education, Legal education, Mathematics education,Medical education, Military education and training, Music education,Nursing education, Peace education, Physical education/Sports coaching,Physics education, Reading education, Religious education, Scienceeducation, Special education, Sex education, Sociology of education,Technology education, Vocational education, Educational leadership,Educational philosophy, Educational psychology, Educational technology,Distance Education; Engineering: e.g., Aerospace engineering,Agricultural engineering Food engineering, Architectural engineering,Bioengineering Biomechanical engineering, Biomedical engineering,Chemical engineering, Civil engineering Geotechnical engineering,Engineering Geology, Earthquake engineering, Highway engineering,Transportation engineering, Computer engineering, Control systemsengineering, Ecological engineering, Electrical engineering, Electronicengineering, Instrumentation engineering, Engineering physics,Environmental engineering, Industrial engineering, Materials engineeringCeramic engineering, Metallurgical engineering, Polymer engineering,Mechanical engineering Manufacturing engineering, Mining engineering,Nanoengineering, Nuclear engineering, Ocean engineering Marineengineering, Naval architecture, Optical engineering, Quality assuranceengineering, Petroleum engineering, Safety engineering, Softwareengineering, Structural engineering, Systems engineering,Telecommunications engineering, Vehicle engineering, Automotiveengineering; Environmental studies and Forestry: e.g., Environmentalmanagement Coastal management, Fisheries management, Land management,Natural resource management, Wildlife management, Environmental policy,Recreation ecology, Silviculture, Sustainability studies Sustainabledevelopment, Toxicology; Family and consumer science, Consumereducation, Housing*, Interior design, Nutrition Foodservice management*,Textiles; Health science: e.g., Clinical laboratory sciences, Clinicalpathology, Laboratory medicine, Clinical biochemistry, Cytogenetics,Cytohematology, Cytology, Haemostasiology, Histology, Clinicalimmunology, Clinical microbiology, Molecular genetics, Parasitology,Dentistry, Dental hygiene and epidemiology, Dental surgery, Endodontics,Orthodontics, Oral and maxillofacial surgery, Periodontics,Prosthodontics, Implantology, Health informatics, Clinical informatics,Nursing, Nursing theory, Midwifery, Hepatology, Nutrition and dietetics,Optometry, Orthotics, Physiotherapy, Occupational therapy, Speech andlanguage pathology, Medicine Anesthesiology, Regional anesthesia, Painmedicine, Preventive medicine, Cardiology, Dermatology, Emergencymedicine, Medical toxicology, Endocrinology, Diabetology, Epidemiology,Forensic science, Geriatrics, Gynecology, Hematology, Infectiousdisease, Internal medicine (general medicine), Nephrology, Neurology,Neurosurgery, Obstetrics, Oncology, Ophthalmology, Orthopedic surgeryHand surgery, Foot and ankle surgery, Sports medicine, Jointreplacement, Shoulder surgery, Otolaryngology, Pathology, Pediatrics,Podiatry, Primary care General practice, Psychiatry Addiction medicine,Radiology, Recreation therapy, Rehabilitation medicine, Respiratorymedicine Pulmonology, Sleep medicine, Rheumatology, Sports medicine,Surgery Bariatric surgery, Cardiothoracic surgery, Neurosurgery, Plasticsurgery, Traumatology, Urology, Andrology, Pharmaceutical sciences,Pharmacy, Psychology Behavioral medicine, Clinical psychology, Healthpsychology, Medical psychology, Counseling psychology, Veterinarymedicine, Physical fitness, Group Fitness/aerobics, Personal fitnesstraining, Kinesiology/Exercise Science/Human Performance, Public health;Human physical performance and recreation: e.g., Biomechanics, SportsBiomechanics, Sports coaching, Dance, Ergonomics, Physical fitness GroupFitness/aerobics, Personal trainer/Personal fitness training, Gamedesign, Exercise physiology, Kinesiology/Exercise Science/HumanPerformance, Leisure studies, Physical education/Pedagogy, Sociology ofsport, Sexology, Sports journalism/sports casting, Sport managementAthletic director, Sport psychology, Sports medicine Athletic training,Toy and amusement design; e.g., Journalism: e.g., media studies andcommunication, Journalism Broadcast journalism, Literary journalism, Newmedia journalism, Print journalism, Sports journalism/sports casting,Media studies (Mass media) Newspaper, Magazine, Radio, Television,Television studies, Internet, Communication studies, Animalcommunications, Information theory, Intercultural communication,Advertising, Communication design, Marketing, Mass communication,Organizational Communication, Translation, Propaganda, Public relations,Technical writing, Nonverbal communications, Speech communications; Law:e.g., Canon law, Comparative law, Constitutional law, Competition law,Criminal law Criminal procedure, Criminal justice Police science,Forensics, Islamic law, Jewish law, Jurisprudence (Philosophy of Law),Civil law Admiralty law, Animal law/Animal rights, Corporations, Civilprocedure, Contract law, Environmental law, International law, Laborlaw, Paralegal studies, Property law, Tax law, Tort law; Library andmuseum studies: e.g., Archival science, Bibliometrics Citation analysis,Conservation science, Informatics, Information architecture, MuseologyMuseum administration; Military sciences: e.g., Amphibious warfare,Artillery, Campaigning, Military engineering, Doctrine, Game theory,Leadership, Logistics, Military history, Military intelligence, Militarylaw, Military medicine, Naval science Naval engineering, Naval tactics,Naval architecture, Weapons systems, Strategy, Tactics Naval tactics;Public administration: e.g., Corrections, Conservation biology, Criminaljustice, Emergency management, Fire safety (Structural fire protection),Fire ecology (Wildland fire management), Governmental affairs,International affairs, Peace and conflict studies, Police science,Public administration Nonprofit administration, Non-governmentalorganization (NGO) administration, Public policy Agricultural policy,Defense policy, Drug policy, Education policy, Energy policy,Environmental policy, Fiscal policy, Health policy, Trade policy; Socialwork: Child welfare, Community practice Community organizing, Socialpolicy, Corrections, Gerontology, Medical social work, Mental health,School social work; Sports & History of Sports e.g.: NFL, NCAAF, NCAAB,NBA, NASCAR, Horse racing, Golf, MLB, NHL, Indy Car, Cricket, Soccer,Football, Basketball, Tennis, Motor racing, Hockey, Boxing, Fighting,cricket, Olympics, Baseball, horse racing, auto racing, wrestling,alternative sports, recreational sports, and adventure sports; or asknown in the art, (e.g., as disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser.No. 13/439,735, filed 2012, Apr. 4, entirely incorporated herein byreference); Transportation: e.g., Highway safety, Infographics,Intermodal transportation studies, Marine transportation Portmanagement, Operations research, Mass transit; Degrees andcertifications in the field of education: Bachelor of Education, Masterof Education, Doctor of Education, General education concepts, Adulteducation, Alternative education, Behavior modification, Board ofeducation, Book, Collaborative learning, College, Comparative education,Compulsory education, Continuing education, Curriculum, Democraticschool, Department of Education, Developmental Education, e-learning,Educational animation, Educational philosophies, Educational psychology,Educational technology, Experiential education, Free education, Glossaryof education-related terms, Grade (education), Homework, Humanisticeducation, Instructional technology, Language education, Learning,Learning 2.0, Learning by teaching (LdL), Learning community, Library,Life skills, Lifelong education, List of educators, Medical education,Online learning community, Over-education, Pedagogy, Progressiveeducation, Remedial Education, School, Single-sex education,Socialization, Student, Study skills, Taxonomy of Educational Objectives(Bloom's Taxonomy), Teacher, Tertiary education, University, Vocationaleducation. Non-limiting examples can include, e.g., but not limitedto, 1. Educational Topics, such as: a. history of the planet, b.oceanography, c. continents of the world, d. population of the world, e.cultures of the world, f. solar system, g. galaxy, h. plants, animalsand other species, i. endangered species, j. ancient cultures &civilizations. 2. Systems of Education, such as: a. nursery education,b. preschools, c. primary schools, d. secondary schools, e. indigenouseducation, f. alternative education, g. public schools, h. privateschools, i. homeschool education, j. global educational methods, k.distance learning, l. online education, 3. Systems of Higher Learning,such as, a. University Systems, b. Liberal Arts Colleges, c. CommunityColleges, d. Junior College, e. Career School, Technical Schooloral/Trade School, f. Specialized Education, g. Degrees; 4. AdultEducation; 5. Learning Modalities; 6. Instruction Education; 7.Technology Education; 8. Education Theory; 9. Economics & Education; 10.History Education; 11. Philosophy Education; 12. Sociology Education;13. Education in Developing Countries; 14. International Education; 15.Linguistics Language Education; 16. Alternative approaches to education,e.g., Home schooling; 17. Educational philosophies, e.g., Unschooling,and the like. Reading & Digital Library, book search, calculator,definitions, local search, web page; Government such as, News, Funding,How do I find, Research & Statistics, Policy, Programs, About ED.gov.,Federal Agencies and What They Do, Profiles in Public Service, FederalCareers, Agriculture & Forestry, Art & Design, Biological Sciences,Business, Communications, Computer Science, Education, Engineering,Environmental Sciences, Foreign Languages, International Relations,Legal, Law Enforcement, Math & Statistics, Medical & Public Health,Physical Sciences, Social Sciences, Social Work. Geospatial Analysis,using GIS, for environment, life sciences, defense, intelligence,utilities, business applications, coupons, products & services, onlineshopping, mobile, social networking, travel & hospitality, e-commerce,gambling, natural resources (i.e. oil and gas, forestry, etc.), socialsciences, medicine, education and public safety (i.e. emergencymanagement and criminology).

The term educational related also can include trades or types ofcompanies included in or as members of a trade association, e.g., butnot limited to Trade Associations: including but not limited to:international, national, provincial, state, city or local, e.g., ACAInternational (formerly, the American Collectors Association, including(collection agencies, creditors, debt buyers, collection attorneys anddebt collection industry service providers), Acute Long Term HospitalAssociation, Advertising Research Foundation, Aerospace IndustriesAssociation, Air Conditioning Contractors of America, Air Conditioning,Heating and Refrigeration Institute, Airports Council International,Alabama Broadcasters Association, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers,Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, The AluminumAssociation, American Advertising Federation Ad 2, American AnimalHospital Association, American Ambulance Association, American AmusementMachine Association, American Apparel and Footwear Association, AmericanArchitectural Manufacturers Association, American Association ofIndependent Music, American Association of Advertising Agencies, AABB,formerly the American Association of Blood Banks, American Associationof Political Consultants, American Association of Port Authorities,American Bankers Association, American Bar Association, American BearingManufacturers Association, American Beverage Association, AmericanBeverage Institute, American Booksellers Association, American BusAssociation, American Chemistry Council, American Christmas TreeAssociation, American Composites Manufacturers Association, AmericanCorn Growers Association, American Council of Life Insurers, AmericanCouncil for Technology and Industry Advisory Council, American CreditUnion Mortgage Association, American Equestrian Trade Association,American Financial Services Association, American Forest & PaperAssociation, American Frozen Food Institute, American Gas Association,American Gear Manufacturers Association, American Hardware ManufacturersAssociation (AHMA), American Herbal Products Association, AmericanHereford Association, American Home Furnishings Alliance, American HorseCouncil, American Hospital Association, American Independent BusinessAlliance, American Institute of Constructors, American Iron and SteelInstitute, American Land Title Association, American Meat Institute,American Medical Association, American Medical Group Association,American Moving & Storage Association, American Mushroom Institute,American National Standards Institute, American Pet ProductsManufacturers Association, American Petroleum Institute, AmericanPharmacists Association, American Pie Council, American PlasticsCouncil, American Public Gas Association, American Public PowerAssociation, American Public Transportation Association, AmericanPublishers Association, American Pyrotechnics Association, AmericanRailway Association, American Road and Transportation BuildersAssociation, American Society of Business Publication Editors, AmericanSociety of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers,American Society of Home Inspectors, American Society of MagazineEditors, American Society of Travel Agents, American SubcontractorsAssociation, American Trucking Associations, AmericanWatchmakers-Clockmakers Institute, American Waterways Operators,American Water Works Association, American Welding Society, AmericanWind Energy Association, America's Health Insurance Plans, Archery TradeAssociation, Asian American Hotel Owners Association, Associated GeneralContractors, Association for Convention Operations Management,Association for Information and Image Management, Association forInternational Broadcasting, Association for Learned and ProfessionalSociety Publishers, Association for Manufacturing Technology,Association of American Publishers, Association of American Railroads,Association of Booksellers for Children, Association of Comics MagazinePublishers, Association of National Advertisers, Atomic IndustrialForum, Austin Independent Business Alliance, Automobile ManufacturersAssociation, Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association AAIA,Automotive Industry Action Group, Awards and Recognition Association,Battery Council International, Bearing Specialists Association, BioProcess Systems Alliance, Biotechnology Industry Organization, BookIndustry Study Group, Bread Bakers Guild of America, BrewersAssociation, Broadway League, Bromine Science and Environmental Forum,Building Commissioning Association, Building Service ContractorsAssociation International, California Avocado Commission, CaliforniaBuilding Industry Association, California Newspaper PublishersAssociation, Can Manufacturers Institute, Catholic Health Association ofthe United States, Center for Audit Quality, Christian Game DevelopersFoundation, Closure & Container Manufacturers Association, Coin LaundryAssociation, Commercial Real Estate Women, Commercial SpaceflightFederation, Community Associations Institute, Community BroadcastersAssociation, Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA),Compete America, Compressed Air and Gas Institute, Congress ofChiropractic State Associations, Consumer Bankers Association, ConsumerElectronics Association, Cordage Institute, Council On State Taxation,Council of American Survey Research Organizations, Craft & HobbyAssociation, Crane Manufacturers Association of America, Credit UnionNational Association, CropLife America, CropLife International,Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, DMAA: The Care ContinuumAlliance, Dude Ranchers Association, Edison Electric Institute,Electronic Industries Alliance, Energy and Minerals Business Council,Entertainment Services and Technology Association, EntertainmentSoftware Association, Evangelical Press Association, Fantasy SportsTrade Association, Farm Foundation, Fashion Originators' Guild ofAmerica, Federation of American Hospitals, Federation of InternetSolution Providers of the Americas, Financial Industry RegulatoryAuthority, Financial Services Forum, Fire Equipment Manufacturers'Association, Fluid Power Distributors Association, Food and BeverageAssociation of America, Food Products Association, Futures IndustryAssociation, Game Manufacturers Association, Georgia Association ofBroadcasters, Georgia Hospital Association, Geothermal EnergyAssociation, Glass Packaging Institute, Golf Course SuperintendentsAssociation of America, Graphic Arts Technical Foundation, GroceryManufacturers Association, HARDI (Heating, Air conditioning &Refrigeration Distributors International), Hearth, Patio & BarbecueAssociation, Hemp Industries Association, Hosiery Association, HotelTechnology Next Generation, Independent Business Alliance, IndependentBook Publishers Association, Independent Community Bankers of America,Independent Electrical Contractors, Independent Film & TelevisionAlliance, Independent Petroleum Association of Mountain States,Independent Office Products and Furniture Dealers Association,Information Technology Association of America, Inland Press Association,Institute for Supply Management, Institute of Boiler and RadiatorManufacturers, Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, InternationalAssociation of Broadcasting Manufacturers, International Association ofCertified Home Inspectors, International Association of ElevatorConsultants, International Association of Operative Millers,International Association of Plastics Distributors, InternationalAssociation of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, InternationalAssociation of Refrigerated Warehouses, International Association ofScientific, Technical, and Medical Publishers, International Associationof Travel Agents Network, International Bottled Water Association,International Business Council of Florida, International CardManufacturers Association, International Council of Shopping Centers,International Council on Mining and Metals, InternationalDairy-Deli-Bakery Association (IDDBA), International Electrical TestingAssociation, International Festivals and Events Association,International Foodservice Distributors Association, InternationalImaging Industry Association, International Intellectual PropertyAlliance, International Interactive Communications Society,International Informix Users Group, International Peace OperationsAssociation, International Renewable Energy Alliance, InternationalSealing Distribution Association, International Securities LendingAssociation, International Sign Association, International Solid WasteAssociation, International Webmasters Association, Investment CompanyInstitute, JEDEC Solid State Technology Association, Juice ProductsAssociation, Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, KansasAssociation of Broadcasters, Life Insurance Settlement Association,Marketing Research Association, Mason Contractors Association ofAmerica, Massachusetts Bar Association, Massachusetts BroadcastersAssociation, Metal Building Manufacturers Association, MetalConstruction Association, Michigan Association of Broadcasters, MillionDollar Round Table, Mineral Information Institute, Minnesota PublicTelevision Association, Mobile Marketing Association, Modification andReplacement Parts Association, Mortgage Bankers Association, MotionPicture Association of America, Motorcycle Industry Council, NAHAD (TheAssociation for Hose & Accessories Distribution), National AdvertisingReview Council, National Agri-Marketing Association, National AirTransportation Association, National Algae Association, NationalApartment Association, National Association for the Self-Employed,National Association for the Specialty Food Trade, National Associationof Affordable Housing Lenders, National Association of Broadcasters,National Association of College Broadcasters, National Association ofConvenience Stores, National Association of Counties, NationalAssociation of Credit Management, National Association of ElectricalDistributors, National Association of Federal Credit Unions, NationalAssociation of Government Contractors, National Association of HealthUnderwriters, National Association of Home Builders, NationalAssociation of Manufacturers, National Association of Minority AutoDealers, National Association of Mortgage Brokers, National Associationof Professional Organizers, National Association of Presort Mailers,National Association of Realtors (claims the title of largest tradegroup in the United States [1]), National Association of RecordingMerchandisers, National Association of Securities Dealers, NationalAssociation of Sewer Service Companies, National Association ofTelecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA), National Associationof Theatre Owners, National Association of Truck Stop Owners, NationalAssociation of Wheat Growers, National Auctioneers Association, NationalAutomatic Merchandising Association, National Automobile DealersAssociation, National Bankers Association, National Beer WholesalersAssociation (NBWA), National Biodiesel Board, National BisonAssociation, National Black Farmers Association, National BuildingTrades Council, National Bulk Vendors Association, National Cable &Telecommunications Association, National Cannabis Industry Association,National Cattlemen's Beef Association, National Chicken Council,National Chimney Sweep Guild, National Christmas Tree Association,National Coalition for Quality Diagnostic Imaging Services, NationalConfectioners Association, National Cooperative Grocers Association,National Defense Industrial Association, National Electric LightAssociation, National Electronic Distributors Association, NationalElectrical Contractors Association, National Electrical ManufacturersAssociation, National Energy Marketers Association, National ExchangeCarrier Association, National Fire Protection Association, NationalFisheries Institute, National Fluid Power Association, National FuturesAssociation, National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association, NationalGlass Association, National Hay Association, National HydrogenAssociation, National Hydropower Association, National Kitchen & BathAssociation, National Meat Association, National Motor Freight TrafficAssociation, National Music Publishers Association, National MiningAssociation, National Newspaper Publishers Association, NationalNutritional Foods Association, National Ornamental & MiscellaneousMetals Association, National Pasta Association, National Pest ManagementAssociation, National Private Truck Council, National Propane GasAssociation, National Pest Management Association, National RestaurantAssociation, National Retail Foundation, National Reverse MortgageLenders Association, National Roofing Contractors Association, NationalRural Electric Cooperative Association, National Rural WaterAssociation, National Safeman's Organization, National School Supply andEquipment Association, National Sheriffs' Association, National ShootingSports Foundation, National Society of Certified Healthcare BusinessConsultants, National Solid Wastes Management Association, NationalSporting Goods Association, National Subcontractors Alliance, NationalTurkey Federation, National Textile Association, National VentureCapital Association, Natural Products Association, Nevada BroadcastersAssociation, Newspaper Association of America, Newspaper NationalNetwork, New York Center for Independent Publishing, North AmericanAssociation of Consulting Wetland Scientists, North American MeatProcessors Association, North Pacific Longliners Association, NPES(formerly National Printing Equipment Association), Nuclear EnergyInstitute, Ohio Credit Union System, Open Mashup Alliance, Organizationfor International Investment, Outdoor Advertising Association ofAmerica, Outdoor Industry Association, Pacific Maritime Association,Pellet Fuels Institute, Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters,Pennsylvania Newspaper Association, Personal Watercraft IndustryAssociation, Pipe Line Contractors Association, Pharmaceutical caremanagement association, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers ofAmerica, Plumbing Manufacturers Institute, Printing Industries ofAmerica, Print Services & Distribution Association, ProfessionalElectrical Apparatus Recyclers League, Professional Photographers ofAmerica, Produce Marketing Association, Producers Guild of America,Programmers Guild, Promotion Marketing Association, Inc., ReceptiveServices Association of America, Recording Industry Association ofAmerica, Recreational Software Advisory Council, Regional Bond DealersAssociation, Resilient Floor Covering Institute, Retailer Owned FoodDistributors & Associates, Retail Industry Leaders Association, Risk andInsurance Management Society, SAFE-BioPharma Association, SatelliteBroadcasting and Communications Association, Screen Actors Guild, SDCard Association, Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association,Security Hardware Distributors Association, Sheet Metal and AirConditioning Contractors' National Association, Soap and DetergentAssociation, Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates, SolarEnergy Industries Association, Southern United States Trade Association(SUSTA), Specialty Coffee Association of America, Specialty WineRetailers Association, Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association, SWACHAelectronic payments, Tavern League of Wisconsin, Technical Associationof the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI), Tech Council of Maryland,Tennessee Concrete Association, Texas and Southwestern Cattle RaisersAssociation, Tobacco Institute, Trade Show Exhibitors Association,Transportation Marketing & Communications Association, Trusted ComputingGroup, United States Brewers' Association, United States Chamber ofCommerce, U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, United States TelecomAssociation, Utilities Telecom Council, Vision Council of America,Western States Petroleum Association, Western States Roofing ContractorsAssociation, Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America, Wyoming StockGrowers Association, Yacht Brokers Association of America, Yerba MateAssociation of the Americas.

Virtual Advertisements: Non-limiting examples of virtual advertisementsservices provided by the present invention, can include, but are notlimited to the following: Providing virtual online advertisements,digital billboards and other products, goods or services that connectsmillions of users and members from around the world on a threedimensional geospatial platform using geospatial mapping technology.

Virtual Penny Auction or Online Auction Market: Non-limiting examples ofvirtual auctions services provided by the present invention, caninclude, but are not limited to the following. Providing aninfrastructure and global platform that provides users and businesses ofall types and sizes with access to broad markets of penny auctions oronline auctions promoting the sale of Educational related Products,Goods, and/or Services with millions of users and members from aroundthe world on a three dimensional geospatial platform using geospatialmapping technology.

Virtual E-commerce Market: Non-limiting examples of e-commerce servicesprovided by the present invention, can include, but are not limited tothe following. Providing an infrastructure and global platform thatprovides users and members and businesses of all types and sizes withaccess to broad markets of e-commerce and other products, goods orservices that connects millions of users and members from around theworld on a three dimensional geospatial platform using geospatialmapping technology.

Virtual News, Media and Entertainment Market: Non-limiting examples ofvirtual media and entertainment services provided by the presentinvention, can include, but are not limited to the following. Providingan immersive, interactive virtual reality to news, media andentertainment, sporting events, stadiums, venues, athletes, celebrities,commentators, player and player profiles, coaches, scores and updates,scoreboards, sports memorabilia or other merchandise, advertisements,popular sports around the world such as Summer & Winter Olympics,baseball, basketball, cricket, cycling, golf, hockey, football(American), football (soccer), World Cup Soccer, motorsports, polo,rowing, rugby, swimming, table tennis, tennis, RSS links, videos andother Products, Goods, Gambling or Services and other products, goods orservices that connects millions of users and members from around theworld on a three dimensional geospatial platform using geospatialmapping technology.

Virtual Sports Market: Non-limiting examples of virtual sports servicesprovided by the present invention, can include, but are not limited tothe following. Providing an immersive, interactive virtual reality tosports, media and entertainment, sporting events, stadiums, venues,athletes, celebrities, commentators, player and player profiles,coaches, scores and updates, scoreboards, sports memorabilia,merchandise, advertisements, popular sports around the world such asSummer & Winter Olympics, baseball, basketball, cricket, cycling, golf,hockey, football (American), football (soccer), World Cup Soccer,motorsports, polo, rowing, rugby, swimming, table tennis, tennis, RSSlinks, videos and other products, goods or services that connectsmillions of users and members from around the world on a threedimensional geospatial platform using geospatial mapping technology.

Virtual Personal & Financial Network Market: Non-limiting examples ofvirtual personal & financial network services provided by the presentinvention, can include, but are not limited to the following: Providingan infrastructure and global platform that provides users and membersand businesses of all types and sizes with access to broad markets ofvirtual personal & financial network of service providers, products orservices that connects millions of users and members from around theworld on a three dimensional geospatial platform using geospatialmapping technology.

Virtual Travel & Hospitality Market: Non-limiting examples of virtualtravel & hospitality services provided by the present invention, caninclude, but are not limited to the following: Providing travel &hospitality services and other products, goods or services with apowerful network of thousands of travel & hospitality service providerse.g. travel agents, hotels, motels, resorts, airlines, entertainment,transportation, and other related Educational related Products, Goods,and/or Services, etc. and other professionals that connects millions ofusers and members from around the world on a three dimensionalgeospatial platform using geospatial mapping technology.

Virtual Real Estate Market: Non-limiting examples of virtual real estateservices provided by the present invention, can include, but are notlimited to the following: Providing information about various types ofreal estate, ancillary services and other products, goods or serviceswith a powerful network of thousands of real estate professionals,ancillary services and other affiliates that connects millions of usersand members from around the world on a three dimensional geospatialplatform using geospatial mapping technology.

Virtual Service Providers: Non-limiting examples of service providersprovided by the present invention, can include, but are not limited to:allowing service providers and business owners' to reach users andmembers and consumers online, offering advertising opportunities forservice providers, business owners and affiliates for business services,healthcare services, specialty financial services, consumer products,specialty retail and media and entertainment, lenders, mortgagecompanies and the like; providing advertisements that can appear onconsumers' property search results and connecting thousands of serviceproviders and business owners for business services, healthcareservices, specialty financial services, consumer products, specialtyretail and media and entertainment, lenders, mortgage companies lendersand mortgage companies to provide financing quotes to millions of usersand members and consumers online; providing real estate marketinformation and mortgage quotes for, e.g., purchase of a new home,refinance, consolidating debt, auto loans, insurance quotes or homeequity loans and other Educational related Products, Goods, and/orServices, advertisers, service providers and business owners from aroundthe world on a three dimensional geospatial platform using geospatialmapping technology.

Virtual Social Networking Market: Non-limiting examples of virtualsocial networking services provided by the present invention, caninclude, but are not limited to the following: Providing a socialnetworking platform with social networking and social networkingcommunities and a means for users and members to interact i.e. userprofile, social links, share interests and/or activities, socialplugins, ad links, promotions, social applications, messaging, onlinecommunications, viewing public & private user profiles, blogs, chatrooms, other entertainment, events and interests, emailing and instantmessaging, games, groups, etc. for members and other products, goods orservices that connects millions of users and members from around theworld on a three dimensional geospatial platform using geospatialmapping technology.

Virtual Online Dating Market: Non-limiting examples of virtual onlinedating provided by the present invention, can include, but are notlimited to the following: Providing an online community for dating,gathering and other types of services for users and members to interacti.e. user profiles, viewing public & private user profiles, onlinecommunications, messaging, social links, social plugins, socialapplications, blogs, chat rooms, sharing interests and/or activities,entertainment, events and interests, emailing and instant messaging,games, groups, etc. and other products, goods or services that connectsmillions of users and members from around the world on a threedimensional geospatial platform using geospatial mapping technology.

Virtual Social Gaming Market: Non-limiting examples of social gamingservices provided by the present invention, can include, but are notlimited to, gaming and social sites, add-ons for online games, digitalgifts and other items, online virtual communities and similar or relatedforms of entertainment, virtual real estate, social networks, searchingonline for different types of real estate and other Educational relatedProducts, Goods, and/or Services, educational services, sports andsporting events interest, ancillary services that connects millions ofusers and members from around the world on a three dimensionalgeospatial platform using geospatial mapping technology.

Virtual Retail Stores Market: Non-limiting examples of virtual retailstores services provided by the present invention, can include, but arenot limited to, virtual retail stores. Proving users and members andbusiness owners with an online retail store and ability to create acentral shopping location where buyers can learn about you and all theproducts that you sell. Providing online retail stores for members andbusiness owners and other Educational related Products, Goods, and/orServices, advertisers, service providers and business owners thatconnects millions of users and members from around the world on a threedimensional geospatial platform using geospatial mapping technology.

Virtual Communities Market: Non-limiting examples of virtual communitiesservices by the present invention, can include, but are not limited to,virtual worlds. Virtual worlds are online communities in whichindividuals are able to interact with each other in real time, and caninclude v-businesses, which is virtual commerce of goods and servicesfor use in these virtual worlds. Virtual communities have thousands andmillions of members, namely people who join the virtual communities toexchange information, gain social support, or to seek entertainment andfriendship. Providing users and members and business owners with anonline virtual community and other Educational related Products, Goods,and/or Services, advertisers, service providers and business owners thatconnects millions of users and members and members from around the worldon a three dimensional geospatial platform using geospatial mappingtechnology.

Virtual Goods Market: Non-limiting examples of Educational relatedProducts, Goods, and/or Services provided by the present invention, caninclude, but are not limited to, virtual goods, which can relate tovirtual worlds and multiplayer online role playing games (MMO orMMORPG), e.g., like Entropia and Second Life, for members and otherproducts, services, service providers and businesses that connectsmillions of users and members via the Internet with thousands andmillions of members from around the world on a three dimensionalgeospatial platform using geospatial mapping technology.

Giving Back: Social Shoppers will optionally be able to help those whohave been impacted by a natural disaster, live in impoverishedconditions or are less fortunate in the world. Social Earth plans toprovide microloans or microcredit, humanitarian aid and support otherworldly causes in developing countries and charities in theircommunities and local and global causes around our planet and otherrelief efforts for natural and man-made disasters including devastatingearthquakes and/or tsunamis. For example, fly to Japan and view a videoon the Japan relief effort. By tapping into the power of socialnetworking and bringing together a collective consciousness withmillions of Social Shoppers, Social Earth plans to raise awareness forglobal issues and millions of dollars for microloans or microcredit,humanitarian aid and support other worldly causes.

Microloans or Microcredit Market: Non-limiting examples of microloan ormicrocredit services provided by the present invention, can include, butare not limited to, information about microloans or microcredit, whichis an extension of very small loans to those in poverty designed to spurentrepreneurship. Providing information about microloans or microcreditto men and women that lack collateral, steady employment and verifiablecredit history and in impoverished conditions around the world and otherEducational related Products, Goods, and/or Services, advertisers,service providers and business owners that connects millions of usersand members with organizations that support disadvantaged men and womenfrom around the world on a three dimensional geospatial platform usinggeospatial mapping technology.

Humanitarian Aid Market: Non-limiting examples of humanitarian aidservices provided by the present invention, can include, but are notlimited to, humanitarian aid for poverty, natural disasters and man-madedisasters. The primary objective of humanitarian aid is to save lives,provide food, clean water and shelter to alleviate suffering andmaintain human dignity. Providing humanitarian aid to those inimpoverished conditions and suffering from around the world from naturaldisasters and manmade disasters and including animals, animal rights andprotecting endangered species and wildlife from extinction and thatconnects millions of users and members and members with organizationsthat support underprivileged men, women and children and includinganimals, animal rights and protecting endangered species and wildlifefrom extinction from around the world from poverty, natural disastersand manmade disasters on a three dimensional geospatial platform usinggeospatial mapping technology.

Charitable Donations or Sustainable Gifts Market: Non-limiting examplesof charitable donations or sustainable gifts services provided by thepresent invention, can include, but are not limited to, charitabledonations or sustainable gifts to benefit those in need from around theworld and other charitable causes such as: saving the children, hunger &poverty, clean water supply, global warming, Amazon Rain Forest, savingour planet from grave ecological harm, education & play, immunization,water, nutrition, health & emergency, etc. In addition, Social Earthsupports saving the rain forest, lives and finding cures for infectiousdiseases, etc. A donation or sustainable gift may take various forms,including cash or a Social Earth Coupon, can include, but are notlimited to, a goat, sheep, chicken, water buffalo, cow, stove, carpentrytools, class supplies, health clinic, food, clothing, water, medical orother supplies, services, new or used goods including clothing, toys,food and vehicles. It may also consist of emergency, relief orhumanitarian aid items, development aid support and medical care needsas i.e. blood or organs for transplant. Providing charitable donationsor sustainable gifts to those in need in impoverished conditions forsuch items as food, clothing, education, health or benefit a causearound the world and other products, services, service providers andbusiness owners that connects millions of users and members from aroundthe world on a three dimensional geospatial platform using geospatialmapping technology.

A Social Networking Service is an online service, platform, or site thatfocuses on building and reflecting of social networks or socialrelations among people, who, for example, share interests and/oractivities. A social network service essentially consists of arepresentation of each user (often a profile), his/her social links, anda variety of additional services. Most social network services are webbased and provide means for users to interact over the Internet, such ase-mail, blogs, chat rooms and instant messaging. Online communityservices are sometimes considered as a social network service, though ina broader sense, social network service usually means anindividual-centered service, whereas online community services aregroup-centered. Social networking sites allow users to share ideas,activities, events, and interests within their individual networks. Themain types of social networking services are those, which containcategory places (such as former school year or classmates), means toconnect with friends (usually with self-description pages) and arecommendation system linked to trust. Other non-limiting examples caninclude one or more of the following, e.g., w Facebook™ and Twitter™widely used worldwide, Nexopia (mostly in Canada); Bebo, VKontakte, Hi5,Hyves (mostly in The Netherlands), Draugiem.Iv (mostly in Latvia),StudiVZ (mostly in Germany), iWiW (mostly in Hungary), Tuenti (mostly inSpain), Nasza-Klasa (mostly in Poland), Decayenne, Tagged, XING, Badooand Skyrock in parts of Europe; Orkut and Hi5 in South America andCentral America; and Mixi, Multiply, Orkut, Wretch, renren and Cyworldin Asia and the Pacific Islands and LinkedIn and Orkut are very popularin India.

A Social Network is a social structure made up of individuals (ororganizations) called “nodes”, which are tied (connected) by one or morespecific types of interdependency, such as friendship, kinship, commoninterest, financial exchange, dislike, sexual relationships, orrelationships of beliefs, knowledge or prestige.

Geospatial Analysis is an approach to applying statistical analysis andother informational techniques to geographically based data. Suchanalysis employs spatial software and analytical methods withterrestrial or geographic datasets, including geographic informationsystems and geomatics. Google Earth™ is a non-limiting example of theapplication of geospatial analysis, where it provides a virtual globe,map and geographical information program. Google Earth™ is a virtualglobe, map and geographic information program that layered withgeographic information. Google Earth™ is available for Android, Windows2000, XP, Vista 7, Mac OS X, Blackberry Storm, iOS and Linux. GoogleEarth™ provides a wealth of topographical information about our planetEarth on a variety of subjects. Google Earth™ lets you fly anywhere toview satellite imagery, maps, terrain, 3D buildings, galaxies in outerspace, and the depths of the ocean. With Google Earth™ 6, users canexplore the streets in 3D like never before. Fly from outer space downto the streets with the new Street View and easily navigate your wayaround. Google Earth™ has also been able to assist in promotingawareness of global problems such as Hurricane Katrina, the war in Iraqand photos of the post Japan earthquake panoramas in Google Earth™.Google Earth™ has many “layers” of data, including videos, photos,Wikipedia, real-time weather, real-time traffic, 3D buildings, GPStracks and more. The release of free Web mapping applications opened upprintable mapping to mainstream Internet users. Google™ also releasedfree APIs for their Google Earth™ platform, allowing users to geo-locateand map their own data. Google is apparently working on a faster, easierGoogle Earth™ plug-in download as well as an improved Google Earth™mobile app. The Google Earth™ API is a free service, available for anyweb site that is free to consumers. The Plug-in and its JavaScript APIallows users to place a version of Google Earth™ into web pages. The APIdoes not have all the features of the full Google Earth™ Application butenables sophisticated 3D map applications to be built, including use forGM of the present invention. The Google Earth™ Plug-in and itsJavaScript API let you embed Google Earth™, a true 3D digital globe,into your web pages. Using the API you can draw markers and lines, drapeimages over the terrain, add 3D models, or load KML files, allowing youto build sophisticated 3D map applications.

Coupon: In marketing, a coupon is a ticket or document that can beexchanged for a financial discount or rebate when purchasing a product.Customarily, coupons are issued by manufacturers of consumer-packagedgoods or by retailers, to be used in retail stores as a part of sales adlinks, promotions. They are often widely distributed through mail,magazines, newspapers, the Internet, directly from the retailer, andmobile devices such as cell phones. Since only price conscious consumersare likely to spend the time to claim the savings, coupons function as aform of price discrimination, enabling retailers to offer a lower priceonly to those consumers who would otherwise go elsewhere. In addition,coupons can also be targeted selectively to regional markets in whichprice competition is great. Internet Coupons: Online retailers oftenrefer to coupons as “coupon codes,” “promotional codes,” “promotioncodes,” “discount codes,” “key codes,” “promo codes,” “surplus codes,”“portable codes,” “shopping codes,” “voucher codes,” “reward codes”“discount vouchers” or “source codes.” Internet coupons typicallyprovide for reduced cost or free shipping, a specific dollar orpercentage discount, or some other offer to encourage consumers topurchase specific products or to purchase from specific retailers.Because paper coupons would be difficult to redeem, typically secretwords or codes are distributed for consumers to type in at checkout.Marketers can use different codes for different channels our groups inorder to distinguish response rates.

The present invention can in one embodiment gather basic demographicprofile information including the user's current location and behaviordata as they purchase and/or view ad links, promotions, online coupons,mobile services, Products, Goods, or Services, entertainment shopping,penny auctions or online auctions, advertisements and affiliateadvertising or services on Social Earth, which can be sent toadvertisers or otherwise capitalized by the users of the invention. Bygathering this valuable demographic information, the present inventionprovides the ability to target market to Social Shoppers based uponspecific location, demographic profile and selected social layer. Thisdata can also include GPS for mobile user, which can be sent toadvertisers servers for target mobile marketing based upon the users'location and buying preferences. The present invention can also providefast access by, when visiting a website of a user of the presentinvention, Social Shoppers can access as easily as entering their emailaddress and select a city to access the site. The present invention canuse email addresses and selected city for future email marketing. Forexample, In just 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or other number of clicks, SocialShoppers are ready to use the inventions website after they download aGoogle Earth™ or similar plug-in, or visit the Apple™, Android™, orsimilar marketplace for their smart phone,

Social Networking Integration: The present invention can also provide incertain embodiments social networking links, tracking, collection and/oranalysis, including integrated social plugins with “live social feeds”from social networking sites, e.g., but not limited to Facebook™ andTwitter™, into its website(s), which allows Social Shoppers to interactand share the latest product or services deals with their friends,family, business associates, and others. Tapping into social networkingusers through social networking integration will help users and membersof the present invention connect with thousands or millions of users andmembers. Twitter™ the latest social networking phenomenon, enables itsusers and members to send and read other users and members' messagescalled “tweets.” The present invention provides opportunities to useopen source technology to rapidly grow its Social Shoppers around theworld by utilizing social networking integration with “live socialfeeds” from social networking sites into its website and encouragingSocial Shoppers to share the latest ad links, promotions, onlinecoupons, mobile services, Educational related Products, Goods, and/orServices with their friends on Social Earth or in these popular socialnetworks.

Social Software Applications. Social software applications includecommunication tools and interactive tools. Communication tools typicallyhandle the capturing, storing and presentation of communications,usually written but increasingly including audio and video as well,which can also include tracking and predicting of online communicationsvia a mobile device or computer with respect to third party applicationsand outside social networks such as e.g. Facebook™, Twitter™, Skype™ andother social networks around the world. Interactive tools handlemediated interactions between a pair or group of users. They focus onestablishing and maintaining a connection amount users, facilitating themechanics of conversation and talk.

Instant Messaging: An instant messaging application or client allows oneto communicate with another person over a network in real time, inrelative privacy. One can add friends to a contact or buddy list byentering the person's email address or messenger ID.

Text Chat: Internet Relay Chat (IRC) and other online chat technologiesallow users to join and communicate with many people at once,publically.

Groupware: Groupware software allows subjects to share data such asfiles, photos, text, etc.

Internet Forums Internet forums allow users to post a “topic” for othersto review. Other users can view the topic and post their own comments ina linear fashion, one after the other.

Wikis: A wiki is a web page whose content can be edited by its visitors.

Blogs: Blogs, short for web logs, are online journals for a particularperson. The owner will post a message periodically, allowing others tocomment. Topics often include the owner's daily life, views on politicsor a particular subject important to them.

Prediction Markets: Many predictions market tools have become availablethat make it easy to predict and bet on future events. This is a moreformal version of social interaction, although it qualifies as a robusttype of social software.

Social Networking Services: Social networking services allow people tocome together online around shared interests, hobbies or causes.

Social Engine: Social engine refers to a web based framework andplatform for developing custom social apps as well as hosting them. Asocial engine acts as a web operating system for developing all kinds ofsocial networking services and projects.

Social Guides: A social guide recommending places to visit or containsinformation about places in the real world such as coffee shops,restaurants and wifi hotspots, etc.

Social Bookmarking: Some web sites allow users to post their list ofbookmarks or favorite website for others to search and view them.

Social Cataloging: Social cataloging is a software aimed towardsacademics. It allows the user to post a citation for an article found onthe Internet or a website, online database like Academic Search Premieror LexisNexis.

Social Online Storage: Social online storage applications allow theirusers to collaboratively create file archives containing files of anytype. Files can either be edited online or from a local computer whichhas access to the storage system.

Social Plug-Ins: A button placed on a website and blogs that members canclick to share their interests in a site with their friends. A Like Boxcan also be added to a web page that provides a scrolling window intothe organization's Facebook™ page. The Like Button and Like Box arecalled “social plugins.”

Virtual Worlds: Virtual worlds are services where it is possible to meetand interact with other people in a virtual environment reminiscent ofthe real world. Thus the term virtual reality. Typically, the usermanipulates an avatar through the world, interacting with others usingchat or voice chat.

Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs): MMOG's are virtual worldsthat add various sorts of point systems, levels, competition and winnersand losers to virtual world simulation.

Computer Surveillance: Computer surveillance is the act of performsurveillance of computer or mobile activity and of data stored on a harddrive or being transferred over the Internet.

Network Surveillance: The vast majority of computer surveillanceinvolves the monitoring of data and traffic on the Internet. In theUnited States for example, under the Commissions Assistance For LawEnforcement Act, all phone calls and broadband internet traffic (emails,web traffic, instant messaging, etc.) are required to be available forunimpeded real-time monitoring by Federal law enforcement agencies.

Penny Auctions or Online Auctions: Is an auction where bidderspay-per-bid for an item and the time increases with each bid.

Web Bot: Web bot is a software program that is claimed to be able topredict future events by tracking keywords entered on the Internet.Internet bots monitor articles, blogs, forums and other forms ofInternet chatter. Words in the lexicon are assigned numeric values foremotional quantifiers such as duration, impact, immediacy, intensity andothers.

Mobile Device Network Operators. The term mobile device network operatorincludes any company, agency, administrator, network, system, provider,marketer, distributor, developer, and the like, for any mobile orwireless provider, or related hardware, software, server,infrastructure, network, switching, routing, maintenance, or serviceprovider. Non-limiting examples include one or more of, but are notlimited to, international, national, regional, provincial, state, countyor local mobile network operators. Terrestrial mobile phone networkoperators, e.g. but not limited to, (1) China Mobile, China; (2)Vodafone, Telenor, Norway; (3) Airtel, India (Airtel); (4) AméricaMóvil, Mexico; (5) Telefónica (Movistar, O2 & Vivo), Spain; (6) Orange,France Télécom; (7) VimpelCom, Russia (Beeline Russia, GT); (8) Telenor;Altimo (Alfa Group); (9) SingTel, Singapore; Temasek Holdings; (10)Axiata Group Berhad, Malaysia (Celcom); (11) China Unicom, China; (12)TeliaSonera, Sweden; (13) Saudi Telecom Company, Saudi Arabia; (14) MTNGroup, South Africa; (15) Etisalat, United Arab Emirates; (16) RelianceCommunications. India; (17) T-Mobile, Germany (Telekom.de); (18) VerizonWireless. USA (19) MTS. Russia (MTS Russia) Sistema; (20) AT&T Mobility,USA; AT&T Inc.; (21) China Telecom, China; (22) Telkomsel, Indonesia(Telkomsel); (23) Idea Cellular, India; Aditya Birla Group, Axiata GroupBerhad, Providence Equity; (24) BSNL, India, Government of India; (25)Tata Teleservices, India, Tata Group, Temasek, Sivasankaran; (26)Telecom Italia/TIM, Italy (TIM), Telefonica; (27) Maxis Communications,Malaysia (Maxis); Ananda Krishnan, Saudi Telecom Company; (28) Turkcell,Turkey (Turkcell), Turkcell Group; (29) Qtel, Qatar. Five largestsatellite phone network operators measured by number of subscribers (A)Iridium, Proprietary TDMA; (B) Globalstar, Proprietary CDMA; (C)Thuraya, Proprietary FDMA/GSM; (D) Inmarsat, Proprietary GSM; and (E)ACeS, Dual-mode Satellite/GSM. US Mobile phone network operators:Verizon Wireless, AT&T Mobility, Sprint Nextel (Includes Sprint Network,Nextel Network, Boost Mobile, Virgin Mobile USA, and AssuranceWireless), T-Mobile USA, TracFone Wireless (Includes NET10, StraightTalk, SafeLink Wireless); Clearwire (Includes CLEAR); MetroPCS; Cricket;U.S. Cellular; Qwest Wireless; C Spire Wireless); Alltel; CincinnatiBell Wireless; nTelos (Includes Frawg); SouthernLINC; Movida Wireless;GCI Wireless (Includes GCI Network, and Alaska DigiTel Network);Bluegrass Cellular; and Alaska Communications Systems.

Mobile Device Communication Standards: Global System for MobileCommunications (GSM, around 80-85% market share) and IS-95 (around10-15% market share) were the two most prevalent 2G mobile communicationtechnologies in 2007. In 3G, the most prevalent technology was UMTS withCDMA-2000 in close contention. All radio access technologies have tosolve the same problems: to divide the finite RF spectrum among multipleusers as efficiently as possible. GSM uses TDMA and FDMA for user andcell separation. UMTS, IS-95 and CDMA-2000 use CDMA. WIMAX and LTE useOFDM. Time-division multiple access (TDMA) provides multiuser access bychopping up the channel into sequential time slices. Each user of thechannel takes turns to transmit and receive signals. In reality, onlyone person is actually using the channel at a specific moment. This isanalogous to time-sharing on a large computer server. Frequency-divisionmultiple access (FDMA) provides multiuser access by separating the usedfrequencies. This is used in GSM to separate cells, which then use TDMAto separate users within the cell. Code-division multiple access (CDMA)This uses a digital modulation called spread spectrum which spreads thevoice data over a very wide channel in pseudorandom fashion using a useror cell specific pseudorandom code. The receiver undoes therandomization to collect the bits together and produce the originaldata. As the codes are pseudorandom and selected in such a way as tocause minimal interference to one another, multiple users can talk atthe same time and multiple cells can share the same frequency. Thiscauses an added signal noise forcing all users to use more power, whichin exchange decreases cell range and battery life. Orthogonal FrequencyDivision Multiple Access (OFDMA) uses bundling of multiple smallfrequency bands that are orthogonal to one another to provide forseparation of users. The users are multiplexed in the frequency domainby allocating specific sub-bands to individual users. This is oftenenhanced by also performing TDMA and changing the allocationperiodically so that different users get different sub-bands atdifferent times. In theory, CDMA, TDMA and FDMA have exactly the samespectral efficiency but practically, each has its own challenges—powercontrol in the case of CDMA, timing in the case of TDMA, and frequencygeneration/filtering in the case of FDMA. For a classic example forunderstanding the fundamental difference of TDMA and CDMA imagine acocktail party, where couples are talking to each other in a singleroom. The room represents the available bandwidth: TDMA: A speaker takesturns talking to a listener. The speaker talks for a short time and thenstops to let another couple talk. There is never more than one speakertalking in the room, no one has to worry about two conversations mixing.The drawback is that it limits the practical number of discussions inthe room (bandwidth wise). CDMA: any speaker can talk at any time;however each uses a different language. Each listener can onlyunderstand the language of his or her partner. As more and more couplestalk, the background noise (representing the noise floor) gets louder,but because of the difference in languages, conversations do not mix.The drawback is that at some point, one cannot talk any louder. Afterthis if the noise still rises (more people join the party/cell) thelistener cannot make out what the talker is talking about without comingcloser to the talker. In effect, CDMA cell coverage decreases as thenumber of active users increases. This is called cell breathing.

Celebrity or Entertainment News refers to the communication orpresentation of any information about any aspect or activity relatingone or more celebrities or the entertainment industry. Celebrities canoptionally (also referred to a celeb), be one or more of a person whohas a prominent profile and commands a great degree of publicfascination and influence in day-to-day media, can be related to wealth,implied with great popular appeal, prominence in a particular field,and/or easily recognized by the general public, those with variouscareers within the fields of sports and entertainment (e.g., but notlimited to, professional athletes, prominent entertainment figures,television talk show hosts, actors or actresses, television or webcastcorrespondents, comedians, and the like); celebrity status as a resultof a successful career in a particular field, due to media attention fortheir lifestyle or wealth, (e.g., a socialite or their connection to afamous person (e.g., relative of a famous person, or for their misdeeds(e.g., a well-known criminal)). Celebrities can be known around theworld, within a specific country, within a region, or locally.Entertainment can be an action, event or activity that aims toentertain, amuse and interest a public (“public” can consist of oneperson). This audience can have a passive role, as in the case of aplay, a show on a TV or a movie, or active, as in the case of a videogame. Entertainment can include where the supplier of the show isvisible to the viewer, with the exception of video games. Theentertainment can attract an audience and influence their actions andthoughts. Entertainment may also provide fun, enjoyment and laughter.The industry that provides entertainment is called the entertainmentindustry. There are many forms of entertainment for example, but notlimited to, cinema, theatre, sports, games and social dance. Generaltypes of entertainment can include, but are not limited to, animation,live entertainment, comedy, comics, dance and music, games, adultentertainment, concerts, lectures, magic, mass media, radio, sports,storytelling, cinema. Animation can include the display of rapidmovement in any kind of artwork. Live entertainment can include watchinga film or theatrical production and other live performance such ascircus, plays, musicals, farces, monologues and pantomimes providecinematic or theatric entertainment. Comedy can provide laughter andamusement, e.g., where the audience is taken by surprise, by the parodyor satire of an unexpected effect or an opposite expectations of theircultural beliefs, e.g. Lapstick film, one-liner joke, observationalhumor are forms of comedy which have developed since the early days ofjesters and traveling minstrels. Comics can include text and drawingswhich convey an entertaining narrative, e.g., super heroes), comicbooks. Manga is the Japanese word for comic and print cartoons.Caricature is a graphical entertainment. The purpose may vary frommerely putting smile on the viewer's face, to raising social awareness,to highlighting the moral vices of a person being caricatured. Dance andmusic can include social dance, listening to or watching musicalentertainment. Games can include activities that provide relaxation anddiversion. Games may be played by one person for their ownentertainment, or by a group of people. Games may be played forachievement or money such as gambling or bingo. Racing, chess orcheckers may develop physical or mental prowess. Games may be geared forchildren, or may be played outdoors such as lawn bowling. Equipment maybe necessary to play the game such as a deck of cards for card games, ora board and markers for board games such as Monopoly, or backgammon, ore.g., ball games, Blind man's bluff, board games, card games, children'sgames, croquet, Frisbee, hide and seek, number games, paintball andvideo games.

One example of an aspect of the invention is a geospatial website thataggregates, inter alia, ad links, promotions, online coupons, mobileservices, Educational related Products, Goods, and/or Services, forrelated company information on a three dimensional geospatial platformusing multi-dimensional representation of information and/or scalableversions of web and mobile device for the delivery of ad links,promotions, online coupons, mobile services, Educational relatedProducts, Goods, and/or Services, from around the world and/or showcasesthem, e.g., in their actual, physical location on the websites live viewof Earth in combination with social networking and/or socially consciousinformation and/or activities.

Social Earth intends to provide information and links to some of the topreal estate websites and integrate real estate information into itswebsite from third party websites such as, but not limited to, YahooReal Estate, Zillow, Realtor.com, Trulia, MSN Real Estate, Homes.com,AOL Real Estate, Rent.com, ZipRealty, MyNewPlace, LoopNet, ApartmentGuide, Re/Max Real Estate, Apartments.com, Welchet.com, Redfin,HomeFinder, Listingbook Services, Rentals.com, ForRent.com and otherreal estate related websites.

The present invention addresses problems and/or shortcomings of currentonline products or services, retail stores, virtual communities andvirtual goods, and will provide optional information about microloans ormicrocredit, humanitarian aid and support other worldly causes throughcharitable donations or sustainable gifts to help those in need, whichshould also provide socially conscious information about the companiesthat supply ad links, promotions, mobile services, Educational relatedProducts, Goods, and/or Services, so that consumers can see where thecompanies and/or stores are located and can find out information aboutthe companies, communities they are located in, what interaction andhelp they provide to communities and/or other economic and/or sociallyresponsible activities, and to associate the geographical and othergeospatially available information connecting also by the use ofintegrated social media, which combination is not current providedand/or available. As users and members and/or subscribers of thewebsite, (e.g., “Social Shoppers”) shop the world for ad links,promotions, mobile services, Educational related Products, Goods, and/orServices, around the world.

A delivery system for a host geospatial website (accessible via a mobiledevice or computer) can provide for a multidimensional representation ofinformation and/or scalable version of web content for an infrastructureand global platform that provides users and members and businesses ofall types and sizes with access to broad markets for the delivery of adlinks, promotions, online coupons, mobile services, Educational relatedProducts, Goods, and/or Services, and optional information aboutmicroloans or microcredit, humanitarian aid and support other worldlycauses through charitable donations or sustainable gifts on a threedimensional geospatial platform using geospatial mapping technology.

The use of geospatial mapping for associating information to specificplaces can included, but it not limited to, one or more of: Live linksto places and events; Data on the landscape; Zoom to birds-eye and humanscale views; 3D custom audio/visual content; Interactive 360 panoramas;Fly-through tours with content, narration, music; Stunning imagery andvideos; 3D buildings and landscaping, e-commerce and mobile bankingtools and hooks; Advertising on the landscape; Advanced search forprivate and public information; Social networking integration;Self-posting for uploading user generated content; Custom tools, mobileapps and widgets; and the like. Connecting buyers and sellers withEducational related Products, Goods, and/or Services with users andmembers known as “Social Shoppers” in real-time on a geographical areaacross multiple social layers that are displayed as graphic animatedcolor overlays on a three dimensional geospatial platform usinggeospatial mapping technology.” The invention can also provide mobilepayment method and/or system for effectuating an online payment througha computer or a mobile device to complete an e-commerce and mobilebanking transaction on a three-dimensional geospatial platform usinggeospatial-mapping technology.

The invention can further provide in one aspect geospatial websiteaggregates buyers and sellers with ad links, promotions, online coupons,mobile services, Educational related Products, Goods, Gambling and/orServices from merchants and sellers around the world and/or showcasesthem in their actual, physical location on the websites unique live viewof Earth around the world.

Social Shoppers can to use “a mobile device payment method and/orsystem” for effectuating an online payment through a mobile deviceequipped carrier and/or a mobile device equipped bank using a mobileusers device or computer in connection with an e-commerce and mobilebanking transactions on the host geospatial website or mobile device(e.g., mobile device, PDA, laptop computer, etc.); wherein users andmembers create and/or maintain a rich-media application via a geospatialmapping platform via the Internet comprising: mobile banking and/orelectronic payments.

Social Earth Mobile allowing Social Shoppers to receive ad links,promotions, online coupons, mobile services, Educational relatedProducts, Goods, and/or Services, based upon their precise location.Mobile apps for smart phones (e.g., but not limited to, Android™ andtablets, e.g., iPhone™ iPod Touch™ and iPad™) are provided that willallow Social Shoppers to receive ad links, promotions, online coupons,mobile services, Educational related Products, Goods, and/or Services,based upon their online activities, precise location, GPS, onlinecommunications, search inquiries, social networking, social networkingcommunities, social plugins, ad links, promotions, social applications,entertainment shopping, penny auctions or online auctions, bidding,bidding behavior, bidding results, advertisements and affiliateadvertising, purchasing, behavior, buying patterns and other criteria,such as shopping or interest preferences.

With Social Earth Mobile, Social Shoppers can explore the same 3Dimagery and terrain as on the desktop version. Users will be able to flyto their current location or anywhere in the world by typing in theaddress in the search bar. With a touch of a button, users will be ableto Pan, zoom, and tilt their view as they virtually travel around theglobe. Users will be able to Search for people, cities, places andbusinesses around the world and View many layers of geographicinformation and other information on a three-dimensional geospatialplatform using geospatial-mapping technology. The invention providesopportunities to connect buyers and sellers and reach people at thepoint of shopping through GPS—a benefit both to shoppers and merchants.The delivery system for a host geospatial website can provide for amultidimensional representation of information and/or sealable versionof web content for an infrastructure and global platform that providesusers and members and businesses of all types and sizes with access tobroad markets for the delivery of ad links, promotions, online coupons,mobile services, Educational related Products, Goods, and/or Services,for related company information on a three dimensional geospatialplatform using geospatial mapping technology. A host geospatial websitecan include realistic virtual landscape using satellite and/or aerialphotography that can include any content and many layers of web basedinformation, ad links, promotions, online coupons, mobile services,Educational related Products, Goods, and/or Services and mobile bankinglinks, social networking, social networking communities and/oradvertisements (including but not limited to embedded advertisements)for a richer user experience. A host geospatial website shall storeimages, web-based content, social data and/or share “live social feeds”from social networking giants Facebook™ and Twitter™ and/or othercommunications in real-time.

More specifically, it relates to a method for users and members known as“Social Shoppers” to effectuate banking and/or electronic payments via acomputer or mobile device; accessing a user account, engaging in mobilesocial activities and/or viewing available options via a threedimensional geospatial mapping platform using geospatial mappingtechnology.

The present invention thus provides alternative social networkinginteractions, as functions or content, access, systems, and the like, asknown in the art, or as described herein, which can include, but are notlimited to, access to trusted user-generated content using socialnetworks, accessing information from multiple networks, social graphs,and content sites, accumulating social relation information for socialnetwork services, adaptive packaging of network resources, adaptivesocial network management, advertising products to groups within socialnetworks, aggregation of social network data, aggregation,standardization and extension of social networking contacts to enhance atelevision consumer experience, application of social networking data,assigning access privileges in a social network, associative memoryoperators, methods and computer program products for using a socialnetwork for predictive marketing analysis, automatically locatingweb-based social network members, automatically manage socialconnections, auto-shared photo album, biometric social networking,blocking objectionable communications in a social network, broadcastnotifications using social networking systems, clarifying search resultsusing social-networking information, collective socializing using amobile social network, collectively giving gifts in a social networkenvironment, commercializing ideas or inventions, communicating betweenusers, community detection, community translation on a social network,confirming an association in a web-based social network, consumptionmanagement systems and methods integrated with social networks, contentsharing across enterprise social networks, contingent rights exchangeassociated with a social network, controlling access of user informationusing social-networking information, coordinated location awarebrokering of social networks, correlation of psycho-demographic data andsocial network data to initiate an action, creating a social network mapof non-voice communications, creating a social-networking onlinecommunity, cross-network social networking application architecture,defined searching and web crawling, defining user relationships in asocial networking environment, determining a group preference in asocial network, device, system, and method of generating location-basedsocial networks, discerning human intent based on user-generatedmetadata, discovering, creating, using, and managing social networkcircuits, displaying demographic information of members discussingtopics in a forum, dynamically generating a privacy summary, dynamicallygenerating segmented community flyers, dynamically managing a socialnetwork group, dynamically providing a news feed about a user of asocial network, elements of an enterprise event feed, email confirmationpage for social network notifications, enabling location-dependent valueexchange and object of interest identification, enabling messagingbetween users of different social networks and between users of socialnetworks and users of other communication systems, enterprise socialgraph and contextual information presentation, establishing a socialnetwork system based on motif, social status and social attitude,facilitate real time communications between members of a social network,feature propagation, federation and interoperability between socialnetworks, feeding updates to landing pages of users of an online socialnetwork from external sources, file sharing based on social network,friends toolbar for a virtual social venue, generating a feed of storiespersonalized for members of a social network, generating segmentedcommunity flyers in a social networking system, giving gifts anddisplaying assets in a social network environment, graphicalrepresentation of social network vitality, highlighting emailrecipients, hosting a social network that enables granular management ofthe privacy of posted information, hot video prediction system based onuser interests social network, incentivize transactions to enhancesocial goodness, incorporation of variables into textual content,information handling system low power network communications,information security for recovery based social networking, integrating asocial network and data repository to enable map creation, integratingsocial contact identifiers into wagering games, integrating socialnetworking with financial services, integrating social networks andwagering games, integrating updates into a social-networking service,interacting with social networking in an internet protocol televisionsystem, leveraging a social graph from a social network for socialcontext in other systems, leveraging information in a social network forinferential targeting of advertisements, managing information aboutrelationships in a social network via a social timeline, managinginformation flow between members of an online social network, managingorganizational resources, marketing system having multiple fulfillmentchannels and a method for directing a personalized invitation to membersof a social network, markup language for incorporating social networkingsystem information by an external website, measuring social capitalindex in an online social network, mobile device and method of operatingsame to interface content provider website, mobile network operatorcontrolled content to mobile subscribers using social networkingmessages, mobile social networking enabled by bar codes, mobile socialnetworking system and method, modeling social networks using analyticmeasurements of online social media content, modification of socialnetworks via design codes, monetizing a social network platform,monitoring activity of a specified user on internet-based socialnetworks, multi-governance social networking groups, name conflictresolution, name resolution, networking across web based andtelecommunication based portals, observing responses to invitations byusers in a web-based social network, offering discounts, online adlinks, promotions through a social network-based platform, onlinepromotions through social media networks, organization of a contact listbased on social network context, page caching for rendering dynamic webpages, page rendering for dynamic web pages, personalized platform foraccessing internet applications, platform for providing a social contextto software applications, predictive resource identification and phaseddelivery of structured documents, presenting social networking eventsvia a television receiver, processing social relation oriented service,profile rating and verification system, promoting shopping informationon a network based social platform, providing an answer to a questionfrom a social network site using a separate messaging site, providingsocial networking content, publish/subscribe mashups for socialnetworks, random voice communications through a social network, rankingsearch results using social-networking information, ranking searchresults based on the frequency of access on the search results by usersof a social-networking system, ranking search results based on thefrequency of clicks on the search results by members of a social networkwho are within a predetermined degree of separation, ranking socialnetwork objects, real time media-based social network notifications,recommending new individuals to be invited into a confirmed socialnetwork based on mined social data, recording usage of an online socialnetwork, relationship characterization and utilization from a userssocial networks, remote work sessions, reputation evaluation of onlineusers in a social networking scheme, resource management of socialnetwork applications, scoring individual network competitiveness andnetwork effect in an online social network, searching data in a socialnetwork to provide an answer to an information request, selectingadvertisements for output by a television receiver based on socialnetwork profile data, self-funding emergency and other notificationsystem, setting cookies in conjunction with phased delivery ofstructured documents, sharing digital content on a social network,sharing social network information, sharing social networking content ina conference user interface, single login procedure for accessing socialnetwork information across multiple external systems, situation-awaread-hoc social interaction, social behavior analysis and inferring socialnetworks for a recommendation system, social capital, social context forinter-media objects, social graph search system, social graph thatincludes web pages outside of a social networking system, social homepage, social marketing, social mobilized content sharing, social networkanalysis with prior knowledge and non-negative tensor factorization,social network construction based on data association, social networkmarketing plan monitoring method and system, social network messagecategorization systems and methods, social network notifications forexternal updates, social network qualification systems, social networkvirtual private network, social network-driven cooperativecharacterization with non-social network sites, social networkingarchitecture in which profile data hosting is provided by the profileowner, social networking via communications over interactive devices,social notification for a set-top box, storing data related to socialpublishers and associating the data with electronic brand data,suggesting contacts for social networks, tagging digital media,targeting messages to users in a social network, targeting online adsusing social neighborhoods of a social network, targeting third partycontent to users based on social networks, tie strength prediction andsocial media filtration, tracking significant topics of discourse inforums, travel related commercial interactions, use with and integrationinto a video game, user pivot navigation of shared social media, usingsocial information for authenticating a user session, using socialnetworks while respecting access control lists, vehicle based socialnetworking, visual tags for search results generated from social networkinformation, visualization application for mining of social networks,visualizing communications within a social setting, web-based socialnetworking database, weighting social network relationships based oncommunications history, youth based social networking. Non-limitingexamples, include, e.g., those disclosed in one or more of e.g., but notlimited to, such social networking functions and/or features aspresented in the following US patents and patent applications:US20100082693, US20100017431, US20110276631, US20100268655,US20100293247, US20080040428, US20090106822, US20110282944,US20110137722, US20090327432, US20100057859, 7958193, US20100268830,US20090271247, US20110022602, US20090292814, US20080033776,US20090049525, US20090271244, US20110047229, US20100114788,US20090144075, US20100153175, US20090215469, US20110131095,US20080281710, US20090292549, US20110314017, US20110225518,US20080306822, US20100132049, US20100082695, US20100203963,US20110167071, US20100088364, US20110196922, US20090319288,US20110258429, US20090150380, US20120023085, US20100036936,US20090210480, US20100042511, US20100241468, US20100121849,US20110320250, US20110258556, 7987110, US20090030927, 7801971,US20110023101, US20110153553, US20110179161, US20110265011,US20110022657, US20090187624, US20100229223, US20110173051,US20110055333, US20100287256, US20100005518, US20090265604,US20090249451, US20080255989, US20110060793, US20100058417,US20110145052, US20090327437, US20110107382, US20110106884,US20120028623, US20080320139, US20080104225, US20090157439,US20090182664, US20090300502, US20090171691, US20110106597,US20100318925, US20090222348, US20100319034, US20100217721, 8010460,US20080208971, US20110046980, US20080189188, US20090222322,US20100293170, US20110251970, 8073794, 7970657, US20060042483,US20070288464, US20110197224, US20110258203, US20090164400,US20120030210, US20100174747, US20100228617, US20110246560,US20080294678, US20090125230, US20080243933, US20100318619,US20110238752, US20080109296, US20100185935, US20110213762,US20110078252, US20080140786, US20090282144, US20090259970,US20110271328, US20110167117, US20090171904, US20110209192,US20100185578, US20110196923, US20050216300, US20110082747, 7941535,US20090043844, US20110225514, US20110015981, US20110153740,US20090222448, US20110022669, US20090132652, US20110270923,US20090055263, US20110126121, US20110185285, US20080275849,US20080133445, US20100077045, US20110125846, US20090307057,US20100319031, US20110113096, US20110264737, US20100216553,US20100217757, US20110167115, US20090031301, US20120028718,US20100070335, US20080133658, US20090307073, US20110004660,US20110179125, U.S. Pat. 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The present invention also provides alternative affiliated promotion oradvertising functions, components, and systems, including, but notlimited to: one or more of (a) advertising content management system andmethod; (b) advertising method and product; (c) affiliate distributionof advertisements with compensation for attention; (d) affiliate systemand affiliate device; (e) affiliate system on social networking orsocial networking communities; (f) affiliated advertising widget; (g)apparatus and method for internet advertising compensation; (h)apparatus, method and article to evaluate affiliate performance; (i)arranging delivery of advertisements over a network such as theinternet; (j) assured comprehension advertising system; (k) bond issueinformation management and distribution system; (l) buying and sellingspots for advertisements in mass-market media; (m) centralizedaffiliated marketplaces systems and methods; (n) computerized networkingdevice with embedded advanced content and web traffic monetizationfunctionality; (o) context-based transactions using broadcastadvertising; (p) customer loyalty and advertising; (q) customizing anadvertisement; (r) delivery, targeting, and measuring advertising overnetworks; (s) electronic publication advertising system; (t) email-basedadvertising system; (u) evaluating content based advertising andaffiliate advertising; (v) internet business co-op with rotatingbanners; (w) internet-based and tangible referral system; (x) networkinteraction correlation; (y) non-authentication access management systemfor affiliated websites linked with advertisement; (z) offeringadvertising services; (a) online platform for web advertisementpartnerships or affiliate program; (b) providing purchasing incentivesand advertisements; (c) providing targeted advertisements based oncurrent activity; (d) quality-based online advertisement trading system;(e) revenue generation and sharing for content sharing services; (f)selecting a website affiliate based on maximum potential revenuegeneration; (g) selecting personalized non-competitive electronicadvertising for electronic display; (h) self-funded commissionmanagement system; and (ii) service system and mobile communicationterminal for free using of data communication, e.g., but not limited tothose disclosed in the following US patents and patent applications:US20080208682, US20100324965, US20070244756, US20080120156,US20080021783, US20030220837, U.S. Pat. No. 6,763,334, U.S. Pat. No.7,599,853, US20100069157, US20050065847, U.S. Pat. No. 7,788,130,US20080147499, US20110066479, US20100268582, US20020066688,US20070192369, US20090319372, US20040111319, US20100198670,US20080126515, US20090106098, US20060167820, US20050234775,US20050171838, US20070218876, US20080172329, US20050038702,US20020072965, US20110191176, US20040172331, US20100023392,US20040172332, U.S. Pat. No. 7,930,207, U.S. Pat. No. 7,827,062, U.S.Pat. No. 7,844,488, US20040172324, US20030028433, U.S. Pat. No.5,948,061, US20070214227, US20020087631, US20110270686, US20090307081,US20090240582, US20040153366, US20080306823, US20090198551, U.S. Pat.No. 5,774,534, US20020042914, US20110246391, US20080059575, each ofwhich patents or patent application is entirely incorporated herein byreference.

The present invention also provides one or more of a method, apparatus,or system to provide educational related and integrated socialnetworking, real time geospatial mapping, geo-target location or mobiledevice and receiving current location of user's electronic device andmultiple points of interest, cloud-type configuration storing andhandling user data across multiple applications, generating userbehavior data and ad links, promotions (“social/geo/promo”) links on awebsite for any product, good or service, including social/geo/promodata sets for user customized visual displays showing 3D mappresentations with correlated or related broad or alternative categoriesof social/geo/promo links to be displayed with web page content for viewby an end user. In one implementation, a method is provided. The methodincludes selecting a first social/geo/promo link category for a firstposition of a social/geo/promo link promotional data set to be displayedon an interactive 3D geospatial mapping display for promotion or sale ofonline products, goods or services with social networking andeducational related company and local information for selected worldwidelocations. One or more second social/geo/promo link categories areidentified using one or more correlation criteria, where at least onesecond social/geo/promo link category has one or more correlationcriteria associated with the first social/geo/promo link category

Non-Limiting Examples of Alternative Implementations of the PresentInvention.

The present invention provides in one aspect combining social behaviortracking, online surveillance and web bot software technologies via amobile device or computer for tracking consumer behavior and data,cookies, embedded advertisements and affiliate advertising, predictingonline consumer behavior by monitoring online activity, onlinecommunications, search inquiries, social networking, social plugins, adlinks, promotions, social applications, entertainment shopping, pennyauctions or online auctions, bidding, bidding behavior, bidding results,advertisements and affiliate advertising, purchasing behavior, buyingpatterns and other criteria, consumer address books & contact lists,blogs, chat rooms, friends, acquaintances and strangers, instantmessaging, text chat, internet forum, service providers, travel &hospitality, real estate, educational services, sports and sportingevents interests, ancillary services (as defined herein) and deliverysystem for behavior targeting and filtering of ad links, promotions,online coupons, mobile services, Educational related Products, Goods,and/or Services, penny auctions or online auctions, advertisements andaffiliate advertising or services and service providers, businesscenters and affiliates for related company information on a threedimensional geospatial platform using multi-dimensional and scalablegeospatial mapping associated with entities providing and/or members ofthe service and/or social networking communities.

Unlike other shopping sites, when site subscribers using the presentinvention, called Social Shoppers (or “SE SHOPPERS”), visit a website ofthe invention, they are invited to travel virtually just about any wherein the world in search of the best ad links, promotions, online coupons,mobile services, Educational related Products, Goods, and/or Services orservices as they shop for the best bargains on the planet. Thisone-of-a-kind social networking website that will use GPS technology toreach people at the point of shopping displaying the exact location ofdaily deals, coupons, products & services from merchants and majorbrands and showcase them in their actual, physical location on theplanet (collectively referred to as “Social Earth Coupons”). Users willbe able to connect online just like in the real world. Users will beable to interact with their friends, play games, search for a greatrestaurant, museum, art gallery and more, upload photos, send instantmessages and video chat with their circles of friends. Users will alsobe able to participate in online auctions and find great bargains for upto 90% off the retail price.

After users install a Google Earth™ plug-in, which has been downloadedmore than one billion times since October 2011, they will be able toselect their favorite cities and virtually travel around the globe insearch of great bargains. Users will be able to choose from a menu ofcoupons categories such as “Purchase Coupons” for Arts & Entertainment,Travel, Giving Back, Eat & Drink, Deal of the Day or “Free Coupons” forHealth & Beauty, Sports, Shopping & Groceries. As Social Shoppers maketheir selections, daily deals, coupons and other products and serviceswill populate the 3D globe based upon their preferences and targetedcity. Members will be able to virtually travel around the selected cityand search for great deals. Click on one of the featured City icons onSocial Earth™ and virtually fly there in an instant. This globalshopping site is going to bring users to the exact point of shopping inan instant.

As Social Shoppers shop the world for ad links, promotions, onlinecoupons, mobile services, Educational related Products, Goods, and/orServices or services as well as view bargains, online coupons and offersfrom major brands for family fun, sports, restaurants, events andhundreds of top consumer packaged goods brands for groceries, apparel,beverages, books & magazines, foods, health care, household, office,personal care, pet care, photography and the like. Social Shoppers willfind great ad links, promotions, online coupons, mobile services,Educational related Products, Goods, and/or Services or services frommerchants and sellers from the leading travel & hospitality industry,restaurants, toy and entertainment companies and top retailers aroundthe world.

Social Shoppers can select target locations anywhere in the U.S. such asAtlanta, Austin, Dallas, Denver, San Diego, and San Francisco or in anyother cities around the world. Social Shoppers, e.g., can find products,goods or services or advertisements and affiliate advertising around theworld in place such as London, Paris or Rome or they can tour the planetat will, jumping from Hong Kong to Amsterdam to Buenos Aires to checkout the local ad links, promotions, online coupons, mobile services,Educational related Products, Goods, and/or Services, as well asentertainment shopping, penny auctions or online auctions,advertisements and affiliate advertising or servicing from merchants andsellers from around the world. Because the Earth view comes live fromsatellite and webcam images, shoppers can zoom in for a closer look orzoom out to gain perspective on the location. Such an aspect of thepresent invention displays, organizes and delivers information acrossmany social layers and social media sites featuring top-notch content,stunning satellite imagery, aerial photography and graphic animatedcolor overlays on top of Google Earth™.

The present invention delivers a delightful mash-up of content, Couponsand live social feeds” from Facebook™ and Twitter™ or other popularsocial networks around the world. The present invention utilizes socialnetworking platforms such as, but not limited to, Facebook™ andTwitter™, to allow Social Shoppers to share the latest ad links,promotions, online coupons, mobile services, Educational relatedProducts, Goods, and/or Services, entertainment services, penny auctionsor online auctions, advertisements and affiliate advertising or serviceswith their friends on Social Earth or in these popular social networkinggiants. Unlike other sites, the present invention aggregates ad links,promotions, online coupons, mobile services, Educational relatedProducts, Goods, and/or Services or services on its site daily, but theywon't last just one day. The present invention can further provideproducts, goods or services or advertisements and affiliate advertisingcan last for days, weeks or even months. Social Shoppers are encouragedto share these ad links, promotions, online coupons, mobile services,Educational related Products, Goods, and/or Services or services withtheir friends on Social Earth or in Facebook™ and Twitter™ or othersocial networking avenues. The global sharing capabilities are builtinto the present inventions technology using sophisticated technologyintegrating geospatial mapping, layering location-relevant data and GPStechnologies. Social Shoppers are able to find great ad links,promotions, online coupons, mobile services, Educational relatedProducts, Goods, and/or Services or services in their local areas orjust about anywhere else in the world with the click of a mouse ormobile device. Capitalizing on the popularity of social networkinggiants Facebook™ and Twitter™ with more than 750 million or more usersworldwide, the present invention provides an online community that tapsinto the power of social networking by integrating “live social feeds”from these social networking giants directly into its website. Bycreating a highly engaged social networking community on Social Earth,Facebook™ and Twitter™ and encouraging users and members to share thelatest promotion, online coupons, mobile services, Educational relatedProducts, Goods, and/or Services, entertainment shopping, penny auctionor online auctions, advertisement and affiliate advertising or serviceswith their friends on Social Earth, Facebook™ or Twitter,™ the presentinvention creates “stickiness,” keeping the Social Shoppers on the sitefor long periods of time, as well as bringing them back again and again.

The present invention provides long-time customer loyalty, not just aone-off deal. The present invention also provides that a portion of each“Social Earth Coupon” that is sold on the platform will be allocated tomicroloans or microcredit, humanitarian aid or other worldly cause orsustainable gifts. In addition, users will be able to make charitabledonations through the Shopping Cart and purchase online coupons,Educational related Products, Goods, and/or Services, entertainmentshopping, penny auction or online auction, advertisements and affiliatedadvertising or services that support humanitarian aid or sustainablegifts to help those in need around the world. The community aspect ofthe present invention is the driver behind building awareness of thewebsite and its featured ad links, promotions, online coupons, mobileservices, Educational related Products, Goods, and/or Services orservices. Existing and potential customers provide advertising byspreading the word to their friends about the great ad links,promotions, online coupons, mobile services, Educational relatedProducts, Goods, and/or Services or services they've found on a shoppingsite of the present invention. Add to that the power of collectivebuying with the power of social networking and it's easy to see how thecommunity provided by the present invention can leverage group size inexchange for larger discounts. The present invention delivers SocialEarth ad links, promotions, online coupons, mobile services, Educationalrelated Products, Goods, and/or Services or services from merchants andsellers from around the world to its Social Shoppers via its unique liveview of the Earth on a geospatial platform that includes links to placesand events, data on the landscape, interactive 360 panoramas, andfly-through shopping tours with stunning 3D imagery. The use ofgeospatial mapping for associating information to specific places canincluded, but it not limited to, one or more of: Live links to placesand events; Data on the landscape; Zoom to birds-eye and human scaleviews; 3D custom audio/visual content; Interactive 360 panoramas;Fly-through tours with content, narration, music; Stunning imagery andvideos; 3D buildings and landscaping, e-commerce and mobile bankingtools and hooks; Advertising on the landscape; Advanced search forprivate and public information; Social networking integration, socialplugins, social applications; Self-posting for uploading user generatedcontent; Custom tools, social & mobile apps and widgets; and the like.The present invention further provides mobile device access from anydevice to provide Social Earth ad links, promotions, online coupons,mobile services, Educational related Products, Goods, and/or Services orservices from merchants and sellers from around the world to SocialShoppers based upon their precise location and GPS technology. Thisprovides the ability to create an infrastructure and global platformthat provides users and members and businesses of all types and sizeswith access to broad markets and connect buyers and sellers and to reachpeople at the point of shopping—a benefit both to shoppers andmerchants.

Social Layers. Social Shoppers using or part of the present inventionvirtually travel just about any where in the world in search of shoppingproducts or services, as well as bargains. The present inventionstechnology drives content, ad links, promotions, online coupons, mobileservices, Educational related Products, Goods, and/or Services orservices into a “virtual Earth” based upon its precise location and GPStechnology. Users will be able to enjoy the shopping scene on the planetEarth and view Social Earth ad links, promotions, online coupons, mobileservices, Educational related Products, Goods, and/or Services,entertainment shopping penny auctions or online auctions, advertisementsand affiliate advertising or services from merchants and sellers fromaround the world by geo-target location using GPS and GIS technologies.This website of the invention aggregates Social Earth ad links,promotions, online coupons, mobile services, Educational relatedProducts, Goods, and/or Services or services from merchants and sellersfrom around the world (in different languages) and showcase them intheir actual, physical location on the virtual Earth. Because thevirtual Earth is “interactive,” one can zoom in for a more detailed viewor zoom out to gain perspective on where they are in the world. SocialEarth ad links, promotions, online coupons, mobile services, Educationalrelated Products, Goods, and/or Services or services can last for days,weeks or even months. What makes the present inventions websitedifferent from other group buying websites is that websites of thepresent invention allow Social Shoppers to search for ad links,promotions, online coupons, mobile services, Educational relatedProducts, Goods, and/or Services, entertainment shopping, penny auctionsor online auctions, as well as advertisements and affiliate advertisingor services from merchants and sellers from around the world on avirtual Earth. Users will be able to customize their buying preferences,engage in social networking activities, support worthwhile causes andmuch more. Websites of the present invention can allow Social Shoppersto select from a menu of coupons based upon their online activities,location, online communications, search inquiries, social networking,social plugins, ad links, promotions, social applications, entertainmentshopping, penny auctions or online auctions, advertisements andaffiliate advertising or services, purchasing, behavior, buying patternsand other criteria, which is integrated into the virtual Earth alongwith other layer location-relevant data as Social Shoppers shop onlineand interact with their friends in other popular social networks.Advertisers and merchants will be able to target Social Shoppers basedon geo-target location.

The present invention provides layer applications, which are known as“social layers.” These social layers allow Social Shoppers to customizetheir personal experience on SOCIAL EARTH as they search for SocialEarth ad links, promotions, online coupons, mobile services, Educationalrelated Products, Goods, and/or Services or services from merchants andsellers in their local area or just about anywhere else in the worldbased upon their precise location, GPS, buying preferences, interests ortravels take them. Social Shoppers select from a menu of “Purchase”coupon categories such as. (Arts & Entertainment, Travel, Giving Back,Eat & Drink, Deal of the Day) and “Free” coupon categories such as:(Health & Beauty, Sports, Shopping, Groceries). The present inventionprovides methods and systems that drive traffic to its website bytargeting Social Earth Educational related Products, Goods, and/orServices and connecting buyers and sellers from around the world on aglobal platform, based upon a user's preference, which are displayed ona unique Live View of planet Earth. Once a Social Shopper selects one ormore coupon categories, advertisements for Social Earth ad links,promotions, online coupons, mobile services, Educational relatedProducts, Goods, and/or Services or services from merchants and sellersfrom around the world will populate the virtual Earth. Social Shoppersare able to double click on Social Earth ad links, promotions, onlinecoupons, mobile services, Educational related Products, Goods, and/orServices or services and virtually fly directly to its location onEarth. Social Shoppers can also click on one of the featured cities andtake a tour of London, San Francisco or Denver and zoom down to streetlevel to take a closer look. Social Shoppers enjoy the experience ofvirtually traveling around the world, zooming in and out to street levelin search for great ad links, promotions, online coupons, mobileservices, Educational related Products, Goods, and/or Services orservices and sharing them with their friends on Social Earth or in thesepopular social networks.

In connection with a one-of-a-kind geospatial website aggregates SocialEarth ad links, promotions, online coupons, mobile services, Educationalrelated Products, Goods, and/or Services, entertainment shopping, pennyauctions or online auctions, advertisements and affiliate advertising orservices from merchants and sellers from around the world and showcasesthem in their actual, physical location on the websites unique live viewof Earth. As Social Shoppers shop the world for bargains, they can viewSocial Earth promotions, online coupons, mobile services, Educationalrelated Products, Goods, and/or Services or services from merchants andsellers of major brands for such items as family fun, sports,restaurants, events and hundreds of top consumer packaged goods brandsfor groceries, apparel, beverages, books & magazines, foods, healthcare, household, office, personal care, pet care, photography and otherembodiments.

Social Shoppers can find great ad links, promotions, online coupons,mobile services, Educational related Products, Goods, and/or Services orservices from merchants and sellers from the leading travel &hospitality industry, restaurants, toy and entertainment companies andtop retailers around the world. Social Shoppers can use “a mobile devicepayment method and system for effectuating an online payment through acomputer or a mobile device equipped carrier or a mobile device equippedbank using a mobile users device in connection with an e-commerce andmobile banking transactions on the host geospatial website or mobiledevice (e.g., mobile telephone, PDA, laptop computer, etc.); whereinusers and members create and maintain a rich-media application via ageospatial mapping platform via the Internet comprising: mobile bankingand electronic payments. The delivery system for a host geospatialwebsite (access via a mobile device or computer) will provide for amultidimensional representation of information and scalable version ofweb content for the delivery of Social Earth ad links, promotions,online coupons, mobile services, Educational related Products, Goods,and/or Services or services from merchants and sellers from around theworld on a three dimensional geospatial platform using geospatialmapping technology.

A host geospatial website will include realistic virtual landscape usingsatellite and aerial photography that will include many content layersof web based information, e-commerce and mobile banking links, socialnetworking, social networking communities, social networking activities,social plugins, ad links, promotions, social applications, onlinedating, entertainment shopping, penny auctions or online auctions andadvertisements and affiliate advertising or services from merchants andsellers from around the world for a richer user experience. A hostgeospatial website shall store images, web-based content, social dataand share “live social feeds” from social networking giants Facebook™and Twitter™ and other communications in real-time, which can alsoinclude tracking and predicting of online communications via a mobiledevice or computer with respect to third party applications and outsidesocial networks such as e.g. Facebook™ Twitter™, Skype™ and other socialnetworks around the world. Connecting Social Earth products, goods orservices from merchants around the world with users and members known as“Social Shoppers” in real-time on a geographical area across multiplesocial layers that are displayed as graphic animated color overlays on athree-dimensional geospatial platform using geospatial-mappingtechnology. More specifically, it relates to a method for users andmembers known as “Social Shoppers” to effectuate banking and electronicpayments; accessing a user account, engaging in mobile social activitiesand viewing available options via a three dimensional geospatial mappingplatform using geospatial mapping technology.”

The present invention further provides the use of various marketing andcustomer generation methods, including, but not limited to, social mediaplatforms to generate traffic to the websites and access points for thepresent invention, e.g., but not limited to, a SOCIAL EARTH website, inorder to provide a large subscriber base of Social Shoppers; which caninclude, but is not limited to, one or more of the following: VirtualPenny Auctions or Online Auctions—Social Shoppers can view, bid andpurchase items from penny auctions or online auction from around theworld on Social Earth. Virtual Coupons—Social Shoppers can view SocialEarth ad links, promotions, online coupons, mobile services, Educationalrelated Products, Goods, and/or Services or services by geo-targetlocation; Video Coupons—Social Earth “video” ad links, promotions,online coupons, Educational related Products, Goods, and/or Services orservices from merchants and sellers from around the world that aredisplayed on one or more pages, links, on the website; EmailMarketing—featured Social Earth ad links, promotions, online coupons,mobile services, Educational related Products, Goods, and/or Services orservices will be emailed to users and contain a brief headline deal(s)with a full description of upcoming events; Website—Visitors areprompted to register as a Social Shopper when they first visit websiteand thereafter use the website as a portal for featured Social Earth adlinks, promotions, online coupons, mobile services, Educational relatedProducts, Goods, and/or Services, entertainment services, pennyauctions, or online auctions, advertisements and affiliate advertisingor services from merchants and sellers from their local area or justabout any where in the world; Mobile Applications—Consumers can accessSocial Earth ad links, promotions, online coupons, mobile services,Educational related Products, Goods, and/or Services, entertainmentshopping, penny auction or online auctions, advertisements and affiliateadvertising or services via a smartphone or similar device, which iscompatible with Google Earth™ and similar geospatial mappingtechnologies, and smart phones; Google Ad Words™-Google Ad Words™ orsimilar advertising is provided to maximize search results for SocialEarth Coupons; Pay Per Ad—the invention can provide a PPC Ad link onother “high traffic” websites to drive traffic to websites of theinvention; In-stream Advertising—In-stream advertising is also providesto use social media platforms such as “live social feeds” from Facebook™and Twitter™ to spread the word about Social Earth Coupons; UserGenerated Traffic—the invention can provide rewards to Social Shoppersfor sharing and spreading the word about Educational related Products,Goods, and/or Services that are offered. e.g., if a certain number ofpeople sign up for Social Earth Coupon, then the deal becomes availableto all included; Share Coupons with Friends—the present inventionprovides this way to make it easy for users and members to share “SocialEarth Coupons with friends on social networking and similar sites, e.g.,but not limited to, Twitter™, Facebook™, StumbleUpon™, Delicious™,Friendfeed™, or Digg™; Refer A Friend—the invention can provide aReferral Widget and encourage Social Shoppers to refer their friends andreceive $10 worth of loyalty credits; Loyalty Card Program—the inventioncan provide Loyalty Card Programs that reward Social Shoppers each timethey purchase a Social Earth Coupon; Social Network Feeds—the inventionprovides where Social Shoppers can suggest a business to others in theSocial Shopper community, track their friends and share “live socialfeeds” from Facebook™ and Twitter™;

SOCIAL EARTH For Your Business—the present invention can provides forhelp for businesses to reach new customers with the inventions Live ViewEarth business platform, where are provided businesses featured in asponsor ads, such as, but not limited to, Premium Sponsor Ads; GiftCards—Social Shoppers and businesses can purchase Gift Cards forfriends, family and customers; Foursquare™—the invention can provide adlinks, promotions via Foursquare so consumers can act and immediatelyshare the information with their friends; Open Source Technologies—theinvention provides that Social Shoppers can connect with millions ofSocial Shoppers in popular social networks such as Facebook™ andTwitter™ using open source technologies; Data Mining—the inventionprovides for gathering social data for online, mobile advertisers andsocial brands that are interested in a target market of a particularsegment based upon their precise location or other criteria; ImageSharing Sites—the invention provides for Social Shoppers to uploadimages on image sharing sites such as Flickr™ and Picasaweb™; SocialBookmarking: the invention provides for the use of social bookmarkingwith sites like Digg™, Delicious™, StumbleUpon™, etc.; Search EngineOptimization—Key words can be used in the present invention to optimizevisibility to top search engines such as: Google™, Yahoo™, Ask™ and AOLSearch™. Other search engines such as: Collecta™, Topsy™, 48ers™,Leapfish™, Scoopler™ and Sency™ are powerful tools that will show livestreams of microblog updates from Twitter™, Jaiku™ and Identica™, photosfrom Flickr™, TwitPic™ and yFrog™ and videos from YouTube™ and Ustream™;YouTube™: the present invention can provide periodic YouTube videosoutlining how to use and maximize user purchasing power using thepresent invention, e.g., SOCIAL EARTH, as well as soliciting andproviding video testimonials from Social Shoppers on an ongoing basis,e.g., incentivizing “four star” videos with a special “Best Expert User”badge to be featured on their profile page; Video Viral Marketing canalso be used in the present invention; as well as Blogging, and usingarticle servers (such as ezinearticles.com, goarticles.com,selfgrowth.com, isnare.com); Twitter™ Marketing, including, e.g., butnot limited to, discounts or other special ad links, promotions, onlinecoupons, mobile services, Educational related Products, Goods, and/orServices, entertainment shopping, penny auctions or online auctions,advertisements and affiliate advertising or services with their friendson Social Earth and Twitter™; Affiliates—the invention can furtherprovide API widgets or geo-targeted social links that can be downloadedby affiliates. Social Shoppers can get paid X percent (X %) of sales ofSocial Earth Coupons on their websites; Independent CouponDistributors—the invention can provide network(s) of independent coupondistributors that own Valupak™ or other franchises (and other directmail coupon companies) to include “Social Earth Coupons” that can bedistributed to local businesses.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals are usedto identify identical components in the various views, FIG. 1 shows anexample of a combined Products, Goods or Services with /GeospatialMapping/Company-Local Information/Social Networking/Communities(“EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN”) system 10 in accordance with an exemplary embodimentcombined online Product or Service in combination with geospatialmapping/company/Local Information/and/or social networking distributionsystem 10 includes a main server system 12 and a client system 14 thatis remote from main server system 12, connected together by adistributed computer network, such as the Internet 16 (network, ormobile device access system). A user desiring to obtain one and/or moreof online Products, Goods or Services in combination with geospatialmapping/company/Local Information/and/or social networking uses clientsystem 14 to interact with main server system 12 to obtain onlineProducts, Goods or Services. An electronic coupon can be but is notlimited to any advertisement that is electronic (e.g., electronicadvertisement on website, electronic advertisement sent to clientdevice, a hyper link based on a search result from a search engineand/or any other push/pull techniques).

Main server system 12 is configured to be connected to, and/or otherwisereceive, ad links, promotions, online coupons, social activity,location, Product, Good and/or services information from the issuer ofsuch coupons (i.e., the coupons sponsor) and/or as provided by thewebsite and/or other electronically provided information, e.g., by PDA,cell phone, portable electronic tablet, etc., including mobile bankingor e-commerce system. Although not shown, this function can be performedby a direct electronic connection with a sponsor system, and/or caninvolve loading data from a physically transportable data storage medium(e.g., diskette, tape, CD-ROM, USB drive, etc.). The coupon sponsor may,and in most cases will, issue in connection with the coupon anassociated set of instructions that define how the coupon is to bedistributed. For example, such instructions can include restrictions asto the number of coupons that any one user can print out for redemption,the state and/or zip code associated with a user for such user to haveaccess to the coupon, the expiration date, the item and discount amount,etc. Main server system 12 is further configured to be connected to,and/or otherwise receive, advertising information from an advertisingsponsor, or purchasing system, e.g., Amazon, or company purchase websiteor mobile application, or through mobile banking system. Although notshown, this function can be performed by direct electronic connectionwith the ad sponsors system, and/or can involve loading data from aphysically transportable data storage medium (i.e., diskette, tape,CD-ROM, etc.). The advertising impressions are displayed on clientsystem 14, as described in greater detail below.

Main server system 12 can include a website server 18, a front-endserver 20, a handler 22, a database server 24, and an FTP server 26.Website server 18 is configured to provide “web pages”, mobile app,e-commerce or electronic or mobile banking, to consumers (includingpossible users and members of electronic coupon distribution system 10)with Internet access. Internet 16, more particularly, the World Wide Webportion thereof, “WWW”, is an interconnected computer network that isgenerally distributed throughout the world on discrete interconnectedcomputer nodes having software interfaces generally referred to as “webpages,” which further includes geospatial mapping, social networking,company and local information for selected worldwide locations, and/orany other useful data. Access to Internet 16 can be made by variousmethods; typically, however, a non-institutional user obtains accessfrom one of a plurality of Internet Service Providers (ISPs), which inturn obtain authorized access to Internet 16. Navigation on the WWWportion of Internet 16 involves knowledge of a directory structure ofvarious nodes of the Internet (i.e., an “address” to each given resourceon Internet 16). Such an address is generally referred to as a UniformResource Locator (URL), which typically starts with a protocol namefollowed by a domain name, for example: http://www.valuepass.com.Website server 18 is configured to provide, among other things, aninterface for effecting a download of client software that a consumercan download and execute to establish a client system 14 on his and/orher computer system. In this way the consumer can become an authorizeduser (“user”) of electronic coupon distribution system 10. Inparticular, website server 18 can refer an Internet consumer to FTPserver 26 for the client installation file.

Front-end server 20 provides multiple interface and allocation/directionfeatures for electronic coupon distribution system 10. Front-end server20 is the entity that is initially contacted by client system 14 at thestart of each new session of combined Products, Goods or Services with/Geospatial Mapping/Company-Local Information/SocialNetworking/Communities (“EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN”) distribution system 10,and/or when automatic coupon updates occur. Handler 22 is configured tointerface with database server 24. After a new session is established bya user, all subsequent requests by client system 14 can be directed toand are “handled” by handler 22. As a result, handler 22 can thereafterissue a request and/or a command to database server 24, and/or directlyrespond to client system (if configured to do so). Database server 24can comprise a plurality of physical, individual general purpose digitalcomputers configured as database servers, which can be furtherconfigured in a cluster arrangement. Database server 24, in oneembodiment, can be configured to operate using SQL server software, suchas, but not limited to, Microsoft SQL Server Version 7, commerciallyavailable from, for example, Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Wash.,U.S.A.

FTP server 26 can be configured to operate in cooperation with websiteserver 18 to provide, for example, installation and/or setup programs.The installation program(s) are downloaded to a general-purpose computer(e.g., PC and/or a MAC) for installation of the client software inaccordance with the present disclosure.

Client system 14 includes client application software 28, DeviceID data30 (ID) data 30, user preference data 32, user history data 34,EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information data 36, and advertising data 38. Inaddition, client system 14 can comprise a general purpose computingapparatus configured to operate in accordance with an operating systemhaving a graphical user interface, such as, for example, Windows95/98/NT 4.0/2000/Vista/7, and Apple Computer, Inc. MAC OS OperatingSystem for Macintosh platforms. Client system 14 can further includestandard peripherals such as a display device 40, a keyboard 42, apointing device, such as a mouse 44, and an output device, such as aprinter 46, for producing a “hard copy” of EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN 48. DeviceIDdata 30 can be stored on main server system 12, according to anexemplary embodiment. In exemplary embodiments, one, a few, a pluralityand/or all DeviceID data 30 can be stored on main server system 12.

Client application software 28 comprises software compatible with andexecuting on client system 14 configured to implement the presentdisclosure as described herein. Client application software 28 performsvarious functions including, but not limited to, collecting userinformation, including preferences, communicating with main serversystem 12 via Internet 16, and providing an interface for the user forbrowsing through, and selecting, EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information forprintout. DeviceID data 30 can comprise a multi-digit number that isassigned by main server system 12, more particularly, database server24, when a user registers with EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information distributionsystem 10. DeviceID data 30 can have a format, such as XXXXXXXX, where Xis a digit between 0-9. DeviceID data 30, however, does not specificallyidentify the user personally, but rather, more accurately associates aphysical machine defining client system 14 with user profile informationobtained during registration. DeviceID data 30 is stored on clientsystem 14, main server system 12, and/or both as a part of a User Infoobject. If the DeviceID data 30 is stored on client system 14, thenDeviceID data 30 is provided to main server system 12 when makingrequests, for example, for new EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information data. If aclient system 14 operates multiple independent operating systems (e.g.,a Mac operating system (a product of Apple Computer, Inc.) and a Windowsoperating system (a product of Microsoft Corp.)), then there can be aseparate DeviceID data 30 for each operating system assigned to thatclient system 14. Main server system 12 can correlate the providedDeviceID data 30 with user information stored in a profile database. Theuser information can then be used in identifying EPGS-GM-CL/I-SNinformation suitable for the user. In this embodiment, however, the useris not personally identified nor is it even possible (e.g., through the“hacking” of main server system 12) to identify the user personally, assuch information is not even collected from the user. Accordingly, theapproach described herein maintains privacy of the user ofEPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information distribution system 10.

The User Info object further includes user information collected fromthe user of client system 14 indicative of one and/or more demographiccharacteristics of the user. In this embodiment, the user information isinsufficient to specifically identify the user. In a constructedembodiment, such information comprises a postal zip code associated withthe user, and a state in which the user resides. Client applicationsoftware 28 allows the user to update this information after initialregistration. In addition, the User Info object includes the mode inwhich the Internet is accessed, for example, through use of a modem(e.g., dial-up), through use of a Local Area Network (LAN), and/or useof a proxy server. The User Info object can further include the versionnumber of the client application software 28.

User preference data 32 comprises two main groups. The first group ofinformation contained in user preference data 32 includes informationdefining how often the main server system 12 is checked for newEPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information. In a constructed embodiment, the optionsinclude one hour, two hours, four hours (the default), twice a day, andonce a day. The first group of information contained in user preferencedata 32 can also include a miscellaneous item of information indicatingwhether the user prefers that certain EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information beautomatically printed (this can be selected and/or deselected by theuser). The second main group of information included in user preferencedata 32 includes a comprehensive listing of main categories ofEPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information selected by the user that the user wishes toreceive. While the particular main EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information categorydescriptions can be changed on main server system 12 and downloaded toclient system 14 at any time, exemplary categories include “Apparel”,“Athletics”, “Automotive”, and “Internet Electronics”, among others. Auser can deselect a category, in which case EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN informationpertaining to that category will not be sent from main server system 12to client system 14.

User history data 34 comprises data corresponding to events occurring atthe remote client system 14, as well as other items pertaining to theoperation of client system 14. All these items are stored in a userhistory file. For example, when a user is browsing through availableEPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information each EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information that isselected for viewing is noted in the user history file. Likewise, whenEPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information is selected for printing, that action isalso recorded in the user history file. Other examples include whenEPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information is actually printed, and when an advertisingimpression (described in further detail below) is displayed on displaydevice 40. The information contained in the user history data 34 isencrypted by client application software 28 in accordance with a clientsystem encryption strategy to protect the integrity of the datacontained therein. The contents of the user history data 34 aredescribed and illustrated in greater detail in connection with FIG. 17.

EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information data 36 includes information correspondingto the EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information available (e.g., for browsing) onclient system 14. Each EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information, such asEPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information 48, includes a plurality of items ofinformation associated therewith.

Therefore, an exemplary, non-limiting, structure is defined for eachEPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information having the items of information set forth inTable 1 below.

TABLE 1 EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information Data Structure 1. EPGS-GM-CL/I-SNinformation Sponsor Name 2. Product and/or Service Description 3.Savings and/or Discount Amount 4. The Number of EPGS-GM-CL/I-SNinformation Available for Printout 5. The Number of EPGS-GM-CL/I-SNinformation Printed Out Thus Far 6. Expiration Date 7. OptionalText/Image(s) 8. EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information Identification Number

In addition, when EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information 48 is actually printedout, additional information can be printed out on the “hard copy” of theEPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information. These additional items can include theDeviceID data 30, portions of the demographic data such as the postalzip code, one and/or more items of the user information contained inuser preference data 32, the date and time, and optionally variousInternet URLs. Coupon sponsors have found some of the informationappearing on printed EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information 48 desirable. That is,when the user redeems EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information 48, for example, at aretail store, information appearing on EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information 48(which is eventually returned by the retailer to the EPGS-GM-CL/I-SNinformation issuer and/or sponsor) is available to the EPGS-GM-CL/I-SNinformation sponsor. This information can thereafter be used inanalyzing and assessing the efficacy of various advertising/promotionalstrategies. EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information data 36 can be stored on a harddrive and/or the like associated with client system 14, and ispreferably stored in an encrypted form. In particular, and in accordancewith the present disclosure, EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information data 36corresponding to EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information is encrypted by main serversystem 12 in accordance with a server system encryption strategy. \

The encrypted EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information data is then transmitted toclient system 14. Client system 14 further encrypts the once-encryptedEPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information data in accordance with a client systemencryption strategy to thereby generate doubly encrypted EPGS-GM-CL/I-SNinformation data. The doubly encrypted EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information data36 can then be stored on the client system 14. The foregoing encryptionsteps substantially minimize the occurrence of fraud in the distributionof EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information compared to known systems. A user, forexample, can therefore not easily defeat the EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN informationcounting scheme that limits the number of printouts by, for example,exploring the client systems hard drive, identifying EPGS-GM-CL/I-SNinformation data, and thereafter producing printed copies of theEPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information. Use of the environment established byclient application software 28 is therefore practically the only meansfor the user to obtain usable EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information 48.Advertising data 38 comprises a plurality of advertising impressionswherein each impression can include a predetermined combination of textand images. Advertising data 38 is also stored on client system 14 in anencrypted form. Display device 40, keyboard 42, mouse 44, and printer 46can comprise an apparatus known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

FIG. 2 shows, in greater detail, database server 24 of main serversystem 12. As described above, database server 24 can comprise aplurality of physical database servers arranged in a cluster. Furtherphysical machines can be added to provide for load balancing (i.e.,scalability, and the ability to quickly add additional hardware as loadand responsiveness criteria require). Database server 24 can includeEPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information database 50, an advertising database 52, amaster category list master category list database 54, a plugin database56, a brand logo database 58, and a user transaction history database60.

EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information database 50 includes EPGS-GM-CL/I-SNinformation data similar to that described in connection withEPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information data 36, but is more in the nature of amaster EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information database including the entireuniverse and/or a larger set of EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information available onEPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information distribution system 10. Advertising database52 includes a plurality of ad impressions, which can be a combination oftext and/or images. Again, advertising database 52 is in the nature of amaster advertising database including all of the advertising impressionsincluded in main server system 12.

Master category list database 54 includes the main EPGS-GM-CL/I-SNinformation category names presently established on EPGS-GM-CL/I-SNinformation distribution system 10. In addition, displaycharacteristics, such as the color of a main EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN informationcategory button (to be described in connection with FIG. 3A) can also bestored in database 54.

Plugin database 56 includes information as to available plugins for usein connection with client application software 28 of client system 14.Plugin database 56 includes a plurality of plugins. The particularplugins that are selected for use in connection with client applicationsoftware 28 depends on what added functionality has been configured inclient system 14. For example, plugins can be configured to provideZodiac information, recipe information, and stock quote information tothe user. Additionally, a plugin can be configured to provide a newEPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information style for the user. In this way, clientsystem 14 can be updated remotely with new functionality.

Brand logo database 58 includes information as to how the user interfaceof client system 14 is “branded.” The default “branding” of the userinterface involves the display of a company logo of the assignee of thepresent disclosure. Also, a corresponding Internet URL for “clickthrough” purposes is associated with the brand image. However, inalternate embodiments, other companies can arrange (e.g., through areferral of potential new users and members of EPGS-GM-CL/I-SNinformation distribution system 10) to have the user interface of clientapplication software 28 “branded” with the referring company's logo (andInternet URL for “click through”).

User transaction history database 60 includes information contained inuser history data 34 uploaded from client system 14. User transactionhistory database 60 therefore contains information corresponding toactions and/or events taken by and/or involving the user of clientsystem 14. User transaction history database 60 therefore includes arecord for each EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information that has been downloadedand/or otherwise provided to client system 14. As each EPGS-GM-CL/I-SNinformation is displayed, and/or printed by the user, for example, thecorresponding record in user transaction history database 60 is updated.Referring now to FIGS. 3A and 3B, FIG. 3A shows a Graphical UserInterface (GUI) 62 displayed on display device 40 in connection with theexecution of client application software 28. User interface 62 includesa plurality of main EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information category “buttons” 64each having a respective status indicator 66 associated therewith. Userinterface 62 also includes EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information subcategory list68, EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information list 70, an advertising pane 72, a logopane 74, a main EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information display area 76, an“Add-To-Print-Cart” button 78, a “Print Now” button 80, a “More Info”button 82, a “Delete” button 84, a “Preferences” button 86, a “Ad linksor Promotions” button 88, a “Refresh” button 90, a printout statusdisplay area 92, and a general message display area 94.

Main EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information category buttons 64 allow the user ofclient system 14 to select the general category of EPGS-GM-CL/I-SNinformation that the user is interested in viewing. For example, theuser who is interested in browsing through media and entertainmentEPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information, would select the main category button 64designated “Media and Entertainment” using a pointing device such asmouse 44 (e.g., via “clicking” on the button). Status indicator 66associated with each main EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information category button 64indicates whether there are EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information under that maincategory that have not yet been displayed in EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN informationdisplay area 76. As shown in FIG. 3A, when a status indicator 66 is“checked” (i.e., active), as indicated generally at 66.sub.A for themain EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information category button labeled “Added Extras”,such indication informs the user that EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information areavailable under that main EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information category that havenot yet been displayed.

Alternatively, when there are no undisplayed EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN informationunder a main category, the “checked” status indicator 66 becomesinactive and is removed, as shown by a dashed line box designated66.sub.I where a status indicator would otherwise be displayed had itbeen “active.”

When one of the plurality of main EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information categorybuttons 64 is selected, a corresponding subcategory list is displayed inEPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information subcategory list 68. A user can then browsethrough the items contained in EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information subcategorylist 68 and make a selection. When one of the items contained inEPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information subcategory list 68 is selected by the user(e.g., via “clicking”), the corresponding individual EPGS-GM-CL/I-SNinformation and/or informational messages are displayed inEPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information list 70. The user can then select an itemfrom EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information list 70, which will then be displayedin EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information display area 76. Through the foregoinginterface, users and members of EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information distributionsystem 10 can quickly and easily navigate from broad mainEPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information categories, to individual EPGS-GM-CL/I-SNinformation, for printout and later redemption. If the user desires toprint out a particular EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information, the user can selectthe print cart button 78 to add the selected EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN informationto a print cart and/or queue for subsequent printout on printer 46.Alternatively, the user can print the selected EPGS-GM-CL/I-SNinformation immediately by selecting the “Print Now” button 80.

Advertising pane 72 is configured to display an advertising impression.In one embodiment, the advertising impression is selected from aplurality of advertising impressions as a function of a selectedEPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information subcategory. For example, a vendor ofelectronic equipment can arrange to have an ad impression for thatvendors company displayed in advertising pane 72 when the user selects aparticular EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information subcategory from list 68 when the“Internet Electronics” category button 64 is selected. As a furtherfeature, the advertiser can provide an Internet URL (e.g., to its homepage) and have it associated with the ad impression. Client applicationsoftware 28 is configured such that when a user selects (e.g., “clicks”)advertising pane 72, an Internet browser program associated with clientsystem 14 is launched and is directed to the URL as specified by theadvertiser. This is a so-called “click through” occurrence, which isrecorded in the user history file.

Logo pane 74 provides a display area through which the user interface 62of EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information distribution system 10 can be “branded.”As with advertising pane 72, an Internet URL can be associated with thebrand logo displayed in logo pane 74. Client application software 28 isconfigured such that when the user selects (e.g. “clicks”) logo pane 74,an Internet browser program associated with client system 14 is launchedand is directed to the specified URL.

The “Print Now” button 80 is configured under client applicationsoftware 28 such that when selected, the EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN informationcurrently being viewed is printed out on printer 46. If there are oneand/or more other EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information currently in the printqueue, as a result of prior selection of the print cart button 78 forpreviously displayed EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information, then selection of the“Print Now” button 80 by the user will operate to print all suchselected EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information 48 on printer 46. The “More Info”button 82 is configured under client application software 28 to launchan Internet browser program associated with client system 14 whenselected, and, further, to direct the browser to a specified URL. Inaccordance with a secure e-couponing embodiment of the presentdisclosure, predetermined ones of the EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN informationdisplayed in EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information display area 76 can be redeemedby the user electronically (as opposed to printing out the displayedEPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information and physically tendering the same to theretailer). Generally, a portion of the EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information beingdisplayed in EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information display area 76 will tell theuser to click on the “More Info” button 82 to instantly redeem theEPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information.

Client application software 28 is configured to invoke, in response tothe “click”, the specified but completely hidden and inaccessible URL(including the appended promotional code) using an Internet browserprogram. Client application software 28 disables access to the invokedURL/code. For example, moving the mouse arrow over the EPGS-GM-CL/I-SNinformation/ad does not cause the URL to be displayed, nor is“right-button clicking” operative to allow capture of the URL.Accordingly, the specified URL (and code) is neither displayed noravailable, and cannot be discovered by, for example, “right-clicking” onEPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information display area 76, like a web-basede-EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information distribution systems. The browser takesthe user to the website corresponding the specified URL, where theappended promotional code is processed, and the user provided anopportunity to redeem the same. The present disclosure thereforeprovides secure EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information distribution. In anotherembodiment, the specified URL that is invoked when the “More Info”button 82 is “clicked” comprises the URL associated with an advertiser'swebsite (i.e., the advertiser associated with an ad impression displayedin advertising pane 72). The “Delete” button 84 is configured underclient application software 28 to delete the currently viewedEPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information when selected by the user.

The “Preferences” button 86 is configured under client applicationsoftware 28 to allow the user to set and/or modify the informationcontained in the user preference data 32, when selected by the user. Forexample, the refresh interval referred to above can be updated by theuser to extend and/or foreshorten the EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information updateinterval. The “Ad links or Promotions” button 88 is configured underclient application software 28 to prompt the user to enter a promotioncode to obtain a special promotion EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information, whenselected by the user. For example, a third-party website, and/or thelike, can advise the user of a promotional code, with instruction toestablish client system 14 (if they are not already a registered user),and then to enter the promotion code as described above, to obtain thepromotional EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information.

The “Refresh” button 90 is configured under client application software28 to transmit an update request from client system 14 to main serversystem 12, when selected by the user. This action, in-effect, requeststhat any new EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information waiting for the user on mainserver system 12 at that point in time be downloaded to client system14. Additionally, any data in the user history file is uploaded.Printout status display area 92 is provided for displaying messagespertaining to the status of the print cart (e.g., “Items to Print: 2”).Message display area 94 is provided for displaying various messages tothe user of client system 14.

Referring now to FIG. 3B, the graphical user interface associated withthe operating system of client system 14 can include a taskbar 100. Inaccordance with the present disclosure, taskbar icon 102 is provided.Client application software 28 is configured to display taskbar icon 102to the user in a first display state when no new EPGS-GM-CL/I-SNinformation and/or messages are available to the user. Taskbar icon 102in the first display state can assume a static display. In constructedembodiment, taskbar icon 102 includes a generally black-colored “%”symbol on a yellow-colored background, all enclosed by a dashed-linebox.

Client application software 28 is further configured to display taskbaricon 102 in a second display state different from the first displaystate when new EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information and/or messages are availablefor the user. In a constructed embodiment, the second display stateassociated with taskbar icon 102 comprises a quasi-flashing displaystate wherein (i) the color of the “%” symbol is indexed and/or rotatedthrough a plurality of different colors, and (ii) the dashed-lineenclosure box is manipulated to give the sense of movement, particularlyrotation, around the perimeter of taskbar icon 102.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a brief description of the operation ofEPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information distribution system 10, particularly themain interactions between client system 14 and main server system 12,will now be set forth. Each time a new session is commenced, the basicsteps set forth in FIG. 4 are performed.

In step 104, client system 14, by way of execution of client applicationsoftware 28, is initialized. In step 106, client application software 28determines whether there is an identified user device for client system14, and/or whether the present user is a “new” user device. Clientapplication software 28 can make this determination based on theexistence and/or absence of particular files on client system 14 (e.g.,a file containing a DeviceID data 30) indicative of whether and/or notthis is a “new” user device. If “NO”, then the method branches to step112. Otherwise, if the answer to step 106 is “YES”, then the methodbranches to step 107.

In step 107, client application software 28 obtains user informationfrom the user. In particular, client application software 28 isconfigured to collect user information from a user of client system 14indicative of one and/or more demographic characteristics of the userwithout obtaining information sufficient to specifically identify theuser. In a constructed embodiment, the information obtained comprises apostal zip code associated with the user, and a State where the userresides. Personal information such as the users and members name, e-mailaddress, residence address, social security number, telephone number,and the like is not obtained in step 107. In accordance with the presentdisclosure, the foregoing step provides useful information to mainserver system 12 in the selection of EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN informationappropriate for the user (e.g., geographic area). EPGS-GM-CL/I-SNinformation from merchants located geographically proximate the usersand members residence can be more easily redeemed by the user, thusincreasing the efficacy of the EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information offer. Otherinformation, such as the type of Internet connection (e.g., modem), canalso be obtained from the user in step 107.

In step 108, main server system 12 registers the “new” user device. Mainserver system 12 determines whether the user of remote client system 14is a “new” user device based on the presence and/or absence of DeviceIDdata 30 in a message from client system 14 to main server system 12. The“new” user device is then registered on main server system 12. Mainserver system 12 is configured to register the new user by performing,among other things, the steps of allocating a new DeviceID data 30, andassociating the new DeviceID data 30 with the user information obtainedin step 107. Through the foregoing, remote client system 14 can alwaysbe identified by its DeviceID data 30.

In step 109, client system 14 and main server system 12 communicate soas to update the master category list, plugins, brand logo information,advertising data and EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information data at the remoteclient system 14. This is done, for the first time client applicationsoftware 28 is executed, by searching the main server system 12 for newinformation that has come into being between the time the installationand/or setup program that the user used to install client system 14 waspopulated with such data (the “sync” date), and the present time (theserver date). The identified information is downloaded to thereby updateclient system 14. This step ensures that the user of client system 14has the most up-to-date information in these categories. The method thenproceeds to step 110 wherein main client application software 28 isexecuted.

When the answer to step 106 is “NO”, then the method branches to step112. In step 112, client application determines whether client system 14is “online.” Client system 14 is “online” when the user is connected tothe Internet such that client system 14 can communicate with main serversystem 12. While this basic step are described in greater detail below(FIG. 9), it bears emphasizing that client system 14, in an exemplaryembodiment, will not force a connection to Internet 16. Rather, if thereis no “online” connection, the user of client system 14 will have accessto EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information in an “offline” mode of operation. Thus,if the answer to step 112 is “NO”, then the method branches to step 110.Otherwise, when the answer step 112 is “YES”, then the method branchesto step 114.

In step 114, main server system 12 identifies the remote client system14 based on a DeviceID data 30 provided by client system 14. In thisway, main server system 12 can utilize the information “on file”, suchas state and zip code, for a variety of purposes. In a constructedembodiment, the state and zip code data are included in a request byfront-end server 20 to database server 24 to select a server that willservice this user for this session (described in detail in connectionwith FIG. 10). The response to the request is a virtual IP address to aparticular handler 22, and a selected database “name” of a selecteddatabase server 24.

In step 116, main server system 12, particularly the assigned handler 22and database server 24, is updated with any information contained inuser history data 34 that has not yet been uploaded and processed. Theuser history file contains information indicative of actions taken by,or, events occurring in response to actions taken by, the user of remoteclient system 14. As described above, user history data 34 containsinformation such as the identity of EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN informationselected, EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information printed, advertising impressionsdisplayed in advertising pane 72, etc. The assigned handler 22 inconjunction with database server 24 uses the user history file in atleast two ways: (i) to produce data from which a user script can bebuilt by the remote client system 14 and, (ii) to update the usertransaction history database 60, which can then be queried to preparereports that are provided as feedback to the various advertisingsponsors, EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information issuers, and EPGS-GM-CL/I-SNinformation referral agents.

Step 118 involves obtaining a client script for execution by clientsystem 14. Step 118 includes the substep of identifying EPGS-GM-CL/I-SNinformation at main server system 12 suitable for the user. What issuitable for any particular user can be based on DeviceID data 30, theuser information associated with DeviceID data 30, the mainEPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information categories selected by the user, the OSplatform (e.g., MAC OS vs. Windows), the version of client applicationsoftware 28, the cobrand ID, and the promotional code, if any. Use ofthese criteria can be either inclusive and/or exclusive. Client system14 can be sent lists of undownloaded EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information,undownloaded ads, etc. The lists can only identify, for example, theEPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information to be downloaded (not the EPGS-GM-CL/I-SNinformation itself). Steps 120, 122, and 124 involve obtaining theactual EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information data, ad data, etc.

In step 120, the master category list, plugins, and brand logoinformation is updated, based on execution of the client script byclient system 14. Particularly, client system 14 works through the listof needed items.

In step 122, advertising data comprising advertising impressions fromadvertising database 52 are updated at the remote client system 14. Thisstep ensures that the user has the most up-to-date advertisingavailable. Again, client system 14 works through a list of needed ads,sequentially making requests from database server 24.

In step 124, EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information data from EPGS-GM-CL/I-SNinformation database 50 is updated at remote client system 14. Updatingof the EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information data includes retrievingEPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information data corresponding to the identifiedEPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information (i.e., the list provided as part of theclient script).

FIG. 11 shows the steps performed on main server system 12 to register anew user device. The process begins in step 176 with commencement of theregistration routine. In step 178, a new DeviceID data 30 is calculatedby database server 24. In step 180, a new entry and/or record is createdin a user profile table. The profile entry will associate DeviceID data30 with the user information collected from the user. The method thenproceeds to step 182.

In step 182, database server 24 determines whether a “sync date” wasprovided from client system 14. This is a date that describes how“up-to-date” client system 14 is, particularly the EPGS-GM-CL/I-SNinformation and advertising information portions thereof. The use of thesync date has been described above in connection with FIG. 4. This “syncdate” is automatically provided from client system 14 to database server24 via the assigned handler 22. If a “sync date” was not provided byclient system 14, then the method branches to step 184 where a nominalsync date based on the version of the software installed on the clientsystem is used for downloading and updating purposes. Alternatively, ifthe answer to step 182 is “YES”, then the method branches to step 186.

In step 186, the date provided by client system 14 is used as the “syncdate” to synchronize the data on client system 14 relative to the masterdata on main server system 12. It should be emphasized that the “syncdate” is not a date that client application software 28 solicits fromthe user, but rather, is simply a date available within clientapplication software 28 relating to how “current” the data is (i.e.,EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information/advertising data, etc.). In either case, themethod proceeds to and ends at step 188.

FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 show step 120 (FIG. 4) in greater detail. Referringto FIG. 12, step 190 represents a request to obtain a master categorylist (i.e., the up-to-date list). This request is made from clientsystem 14 to the selected database server 24 via handler 22. Such arequest is directed to the selected “virtual” IP address as describedabove. The master EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information category list (e.g.,“Athletics”, “Automotive”, “Internet Electronics”, etc.) can be updatedon main server system 12, particularly database server 24. That is,categories can be added, and/or categories can be deleted. In eithercase, such a change are reflected in user interface 62 of the respectiveclient systems 14 when the next session is invoked by a user.

In step 192, all undeleted master EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN informationcategories, along with their display color (as displayed on displaydevice 40 of client system 14) are reported out to client system 14 foruse by client application software 28. Step 194 ends the masterEPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information category list updating process.

Referring now to FIG. 13, step 196 represents a request from clientsystem 14 to database server 24 via handler 22 to obtain a new and/or anup-to-date plugin(s). It should be understood that for an existing user,client system 14 can be executing a client script that includes a listcontaining needed plugins. The process outlined in FIG. 13 would beexecuted for each plugin on the list.

In step 198, database server 24 performs a look-up of the needed pluginto locate the corresponding plugin file (or image).

In step 200, an “image” and/or copy of the file of the sought-afterplugin is encrypted in accordance with a server system encryptionstrategy, and is reported and/or transmitted via Internet 16 to clientsystem 14. In step 202, the plugin update process is completed.

Referring now to FIG. 14, steps 204-222 illustrate the steps involved indetermining whether to maintain a default brand logo in logo pane 74(FIG. 3A), or, in the alternative, whether to download a different brandlogo. While a default brand and/or company logo is associated withclient system 14 initially, the default can be changed. For example, auser of Internet 16 can be informed of the existence of EPGS-GM-CL/I-SNinformation distribution system 10 by a third-party vendor who alsomaintains a website, and refers that Internet user to website server 18of main server system 12. The referral mechanism, a hyperlink and/or thelike to website server 18, appends the identification of the referringvendor to the HTTP reference (the ID herein referred to as the “cobrandID”). Website server 18 is configured to recognize and respond to suchappended data (the cobrand ID) by putting a “cookie” (i.e., a file usedby Internet browser programs) on such Internet users and members'computer system that contains the cobrand ID. Then, if such potentialuser of EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information distribution system 10 decides todownload and install the client software, the client installationsoftware will search for the “cookie.” If it finds the “cookie”, andcertain other qualifying criteria are satisfied, then the cobrand ID arepassed to main server system 12 upon installation with a request todownload the text and/or image data of the other (non-default) brandlogo.

Some client systems 14 are deployed with both a default brand logo, andan alternate brand logo (including text/images), in alternativeembodiments. The following steps apply when client application software28 determines that it should display an alternate brand logo. In step204, client system 14 requests a brand logo (non-default). The processproceeds to step 206. In step 206, database server 24 determines whetherclient system 14 provided a date along with the request for thealternate brand logo. If so, then client system 14 already has thetext/images corresponding to the brand logo and just needs to determinewhether to turn the requested brand logo “on” at client system 14.

Thus, if the answer to step 206 is “YES”, then the method branches tostep 208. In step 208, database server 24 conducts a look-up todetermine an activation date for the subject brand logo. The method thenproceeds to step 210. In step 210, database server 24 determines whetherthe client-provided date is “older” than the current activation date. If“YES”, then the method branches to step 212, where the new activationdate is reported out to client system 14. Client system 14 willtherefore defer activation of the alternate, non-default brand logountil such new date. Otherwise, the method branches to step 214, wheredatabase server 24 reports an “ok” to client system 14. Client system 14will then implement (i.e., display) the brand logo corresponding to thecobrand ID.

When the method branches to step 216, (a “NO” to step 206), databaseserver 24 performs another test to determine whether client system 14asked for text corresponding to the cobrand ID. If “YES”, then themethod branches to step 218, where the textual information is encryptedaccording to a server system encryption strategy, and reported out toclient system 14. Otherwise, step 220 is performed, where image datacorresponding to the cobrand ID is encrypted (according to a serversystem encryption strategy), and reported to client system 14. Themethod ends in step 222.

FIG. 15 shows step 122 (“updating advertising data”) of FIG. 4 ingreater detail. In particular, steps 224-232 illustrate, in accordancewith the present disclosure, that advertising text, and images areencrypted to thereby provide secure transmission to client system 14. Itshould be understood that for an existing user device, client system 14can be executing a client script that includes a list containing neededadvertising impressions. The process outlined in FIG. 15 would beexecuted for each advertising impression on the list. Step 224 marks thebeginning of the advertising update method.

In step 226, main server system 12 determines whether the user, moreparticularly client system 14, is requesting “text” and/or “image”advertising data. If the answer is “text”, then the method proceeds tostep 228.

In step 228, main server system 12, particularly database server 24,encrypts the text of the advertising data, and reports out the resultingencrypted advertising data. It should be understood this encryptionoccurs in accordance with a server system encryption strategy.

Otherwise, the method proceeds to step 230 when the advertising datarequested is “image” data. In step 230, the advertising data (“image”data) is encrypted by main server system 12 according to a main serversystem encryption strategy, resulting in encrypted advertising imagedata. The encrypted ad image data is then reported out to client system14. Step 232 defines the end of the advertising update process.

Referring now to FIG. 18, after the user history codes from user historydata 34 have been extracted and decoded, a “client script” is built byclient system 14 based on information (e.g., lists) from handler 22 incooperation with database server 24. The client script providesinstructions for main server system 12 to execute. In step 266, clientsystem 14 issues a request to handler 22 to obtain the “user” and/or“client” script. The client script is then returned to client system 14.Step 268 show the execution of the client script by client system 14,which issues the commands shown in the steps 268-290. In step 268,client system 14 issues commands via handler 22 to database server 24 tocreate user transaction records for any new plugins, mainEPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information categories, advertising data, and/orEPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information data received by client system 14 since thelast client script was retrieved. In step 270, client system 14 issuescommands via handler 22 to database server 24 to check existing usertransaction records for any deletions. Any deletions are processedwhereby the affected user transaction record is modified to indicatethat the client EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information has been deleted. In step272, client system 14, in execution of the client script, issues acommand via handler 22 to database server 24 to report all undownloadedplugins. Database server 24, through handler 22, returns a messagecontaining a listing of all undownloaded plugins. This list is processedby client system 14 after the client script has been completed. In step274, client system 14, in execution of the client script, issues acommand via handler 22 to database server 24 to report all undownloadedadvertising impressions. Database server 24 returns a list of allundownloaded ad impressions. In step 276, client system 14, in executionof the client script, issues a command via handler 22 to database server24 to report all undeleted EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information. In step 278,client system 14, in execution of the client script, issues a commandvia handler 22 to database server 24 to determine whether any of themain EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information categories have been changed. If theanswer to this inquiry is “YES”, then flow of the process continues atstep 280, wherein the database server 24 reports to client system 14that a new master category list is needed. Flow then proceeds to step282.

If the answer to the inquiry in step 278 is “NO”, then flow of theprocess proceeds to step 282. In step 282, client system 14, inexecution of the client script, issues a command via handler 22 todatabase server 24 to report all undownloaded EPGS-GM-CL/I-SNinformation. Database server 24 returns a listing of all undownloadedEPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information. In step 284, client system 14, in executionof the client script, issues a command via handler 22 to database server24 to report the current official software version. Database server 24returns the latest version number. In step 286, database server 24 isrequested to record the current time as the last user login. Flow of theprocess then continues to step 290, which marks the end of the clientscript execution.

In FIG. 11, steps 346-350 illustrate the response of client applicationsoftware 28 when a user “clicks” and/or otherwise selects logo pane 74of user interface 62 (best shown in FIG. 3A). Step 346 marks thebeginning of the routine. Step 346 is entered when client applicationsoftware 28 (via the OS) detects that the user has “clicked” on and/orotherwise selected a portion of logo pane 74.

In step 348, client application software 28 invokes an Internet browserregistered with the operating system of client system 14 as the defaultbrowser and passes thereto a URL. The Internet browser then connects toa website server resource corresponding to the specified URL. This“click” action, therefore, takes the user to the website of the companydisplayed in logo pane 74. Step 350 marks the end of this routine.

FIG. 12 shows the response of client application software 28 when a user“clicks” on and/or otherwise selects a portion of advertising pane 72(best shown in FIG. 3A). Step 352 marks the beginning of the routine. Instep 354, client application software 28 creates a click-through historyrecord indicative of the fact that the user has “clicked” and/orotherwise selected the advertiser displayed in advertising pane 72. Thisis included in user history data 34, which will thereafter be encryptedand transmitted to main server system 12 for processing.

In step 356, the client application software 28 launches an Internetbrowser registered with the operating system of client system 14, andpasses thereto a URL corresponding to the advertiser displayed inadvertising pane 72. When the Internet browser executes, it connects toa website server resource defined by the URL. In-effect, the foregoingactions take the user to the advertisers website specified in the URL.Step 358 marks the end of this routine.

FIG. 13 illustrates a response taken by client application software 28when a user “clicks” on and/or otherwise selects an item appearing inEPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information subcategory list 68 (best shown in FIG. 3A).Step 360 marks the beginning of the process. Step 360 is entered whenclient application software 28 (via the OS) determines that an item inEPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information subcategory list 68 has been “clicked” on.In step 362, client application software 28 determines whether theselection was a “click” and/or a “double-click.” Depending on which ofthese events occurred, client application software 28 will takealternative courses of action. If the action is a single-click, then themethod branches to step 364.

In step 364, the local EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information database is locked byclient application software 28. The process proceeds to step 366. Instep 366, the selected subcategory item is retrieved from the localdatabase on client system 14. In step 368, the contents ofEPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information list 70 is reset by client applicationsoftware 28 according to the contents of the new subcategory. Forexample, if the new subcategory pertains to EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information,then the new EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information associated with the newselected subcategory is displayed in EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information list 70(best shown in FIG. 3A). In step 370, client application software 28determines and/or otherwise selects an advertising impression to bedisplayed in advertising pane 72 in accordance with a predeterminedadvertising impression selection strategy. In the illustratedembodiment, the selection criteria includes the identity of the selectedEPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information subcategory. In step 372, a test isperformed by client application software 28 to determine whether thenewly selected advertising impression is different from the advertisingimpression currently being displayed. If the answer is “YES”, then theprocess branches to step 374, where the new advertising impression isdisplayed in advertising pane 72, and an advertising impression historyrecord is created for inclusion in the user history data 34. The methodproceeds to step 376, which exits the thread shown in FIG. 13.

If the answer to step 372 is “NO”, however, then the process branches tostep 376, which is an exit step. If the action evaluated in step 362 isdetermined to be a “double click”, then the process branches to step378.

“Double clicking” EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information subcategory is a userrequest to refresh the contents of that subcategory. In step 378, clientapplication software 28 creates a refresh history event for thatsubcategory. In step 380, client application software 28 sends to thedatabase thread a request to flush the current history. The contents ofthat subcategory are then downloaded (available on display device 40) asif they were new. In step 382, a message is sent to the database threadto do idle processing.

FIG. 14 illustrates the process carried out by client applicationsoftware 28 when the “Add to Cart” button 78 is “clicked” on and/orotherwise selected by the user. Step 398 is invoked when clientapplication software 28 (VIA the OS) determines that the Add to Cartbutton has been “clicked” on. The process then proceeds to step 400.

In step 400, client application software 28 performs a test to determinewhether there is EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN product or service informationcurrently displayed in EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information display area 76. Ifthe answer to step 400 is “NO”, then the method branches to step 414,which is an exit step. If the answer to step 400 is “YES”, then themethod branches to step 402. In step 402, client application software 28determines whether the EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN product or service informationcurrently being displayed in EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN product or serviceinformation display area 76 is already in the cart. If the answer tothis inquiry is “YES”, then the method branches to step 404. In step404, client application software 28 causes a predetermined message to bedisplayed in message display area 94 advising, for example, the userthat the EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN product or service information is already inqueue of the cart. This insures that EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN product or serviceinformation is not added to the shopping cart more times than the userdesires. If the user in-fact wishes to make multiple entries of aproduct or service into the shopping cart, the user can alternativelyclick on the “add to cart” button to add more than one product orservice to the shopping cart. The process then proceeds to step 414,which is an exit step.

If the answer to step 402 is “NO”, then the method branches to step 406.In step 406, client application software 28 determines whether theproposed adding to the cart of the product or service corresponding tothe EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information displayed is confirmed as an error bythe user. If the answer to this step is “YES”, then the method branchesto step 408. In step 408, an appropriate message is displayed to theuser in message display area 94, advising that the selected product orservice has been removed from the cart. The method then proceeds to step414, which is an exit step.

If the answer to step 406 is “NO”, then the method branches to step 410.In step 410, the EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information currently being displayedin EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information display area 76 is used to add a selectedproduct or service to the cart. The method proceeds to step 412, whereinmessage display area 94 is cleared, thereby clearing any pre-existingmessage displayed therein. The process then proceeds to step 414, whichis an exit step. For some EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information displayed, it isof value to limit the number of times a specific user can access theEPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information. For example, a particular vendor can wishto limit the number of EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information available to a userto a specific amount. Similarly, for clickable links from advertisers(i.e., clickable advertisements), it is also of value to limit thenumber of times a specific user can click on the advertisement. Inresponse to a click on a clickable advertisement, a user is typicallytransferred to another website that relates to the information presentin the clickable advertisement. By being able to limit the number oftimes a specific user can click on the advertisement, the advertiser canbe more certain that the click on the advertisement was a true accessand/or intended click by a particular user.

Limiting the clicking of clickable advertisements is particularly usefulto avoid click fraud. Click fraud can occur, for example, in pay perclick online advertising when a person, automated script, and/orcomputer program imitates a legitimate user of a web browser clicking onan ad for the purpose of generating a charge per click without havingactual interest in the target of the ads link. Pay per click advertisingis an arrangement in which webmasters (operators of web sites), actingas publishers, display clickable advertisements from advertisers, inexchange for a charge per click. By limiting the number of times aparticular client system 14 can click on a clickable advertisement to aset amount, e.g., three, the ability to commit click fraud issignificantly reduced. Moreover, if an advertiser can control the numberof clicks to a clickable advertisement from a particular client system14, the advertiser is more likely to increase the amount it will pay foreach unique click of the clickable advertisement. To promote controlover the clicking on of clickable advertisements, each clickableadvertisement can include an access limit, which defines the number oftimes any client system can click on the clickable advertisement. Forexample, if the access limit for a clickable advertisement is three,then client application software 28 of a particular client system 14would only be able to click on that clickable advertisement three times.In an exemplary embodiment, client application software 28 can beconfigured to allow access to the advertisement but not increment thecount for revenue generation purposes (e.g., search engine revenue,etc.).

The system for displaying an advertisement from an advertisementdatabase on a client computer on a network can include processingcircuit 502 configured to receive a display request for an advertisementand to provide access to display the advertisement. Processing circuit502 can be further configured to determine a revenue counting displaylimit and a number of times the advertisement has been displayed.Processing circuit 502 can also be configured to increment a revenueaccount and/or revenue counter based on a comparison of the number oftimes the advertisement has been displayed to the revenue countingdisplay limit.

The system for displaying an advertisement from an advertisementdatabase on a client computer on a network can also not increment therevenue account if the number of times the advertisement has beendisplayed exceeds the revenue counting display limit. The system fordisplaying an advertisement from an advertisement database on a clientcomputer on a network can also increment the revenue account if thenumber of times the advertisement has been displayed does not exceed therevenue counting display limit.

The system for displaying an advertisement from an advertisementdatabase on a client computer on a network can also include processingcircuit 502 and/or components thereof being configured to be partiallyoperated on main server system 12. Processing circuit 502 and/orcomponents thereof can also be configured to be partially operated onclient system 14 and/or client computing device. The system fordisplaying an advertisement from an advertisement database on a clientcomputer on a network can also include the revenue counting displaylimit being stored on main server system 12.

The access limit for each clickable advertisement could be stored, forexample, in database server 24, and/or in a secure area of client system14. In addition, for each clickable advertisement, a counter can bemaintained in the database server 24 for each DeviceID data 30. Thecounter counts the number of times a particular DeviceID data 30 hasclicked on the associated clickable advertisement.

The method for controlling access to EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information caninclude assigning an identifier (e.g., DeviceID data 30) to a clientcomputer and receiving a request from client application software 28operating on the client computer to view EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN informationimage data for the EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information. The method can alsoinclude displaying the EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information image data on theclient computer and receiving a request to access the EPGS-GM-CL/I-SNinformation from client application software 28. The request can includethe identifier assigned to the client computer. The method can alsoinclude determining an access limit for the EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information.The access limit being a number of times that the client computer ispermitted to access the EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information. The method can alsoinclude determining the number of times the EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN informationhas been accessed based on the identifier and controlling access to theEPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information based on the number of times theEPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information has been accessed and the access limit.

The method can further include transmitting the EPGS-GM-CL/I-SNinformation to the client computer based on the controlling step. Themethod can also include transferring the user to a website correspondingto the EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information in response to a request for moreinformation from the client computer. The method can also includeincrementing a counter associated with the EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN informationin response to the request wherein the counter corresponding to thenumber of times the EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information has been accessed. Themethod can also include transmitting the EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN informationaccess report to a remote device. The method can further include thatthe EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information image data comprises a thumbnail imageand an overlay information.

It should be noted that access can include transmitting data to a printqueue, transmitting data based on clicking on and/or any other method ofactivating a hyper link, initiating a search (e.g., an internet searchengine, an intranet search engine, a local computing device search,and/or any other search known to a person skilled in the art),displaying data, receiving data, transmitting data and/or anycombination thereof. Access as used herein can refer to any of a numberof ways that client system 14 can be configured to provide access to theuser, in various alternative embodiments. It should also be noted thataccess limit can include number of times client system 14 can print anadvertisement, number of times client system 14 can send anadvertisement to a print queue, number of times client system 14 can beallowed to display an advertisement, the number of times client system14 can be allowed to click thorough a clickable link to display anadvertisement, the number of times client system 14 can be allowed todownload an advertisement from the advertisement server, the number oftimes a user can click on a link which is a result of a search performedon an internet search engine, and/or any other way client system 14 canbe allowed to access an advertisement. The access limit can be limits onother user accesses to advertisement. Accordingly, providing access,limiting access, and/or requesting access as used herein can refer tosteps relating to any of the above mentioned types of access.

FIGS. 15A and 15B are flow diagrams of processes for controlling thenumber of clicks to a clickable advertisement. As shown in FIG. 15A, instep 420, a request is received from client application software 28 of aparticular client system 14 to view clickable advertisements. Therequest preferably includes DeviceID data 30, which is a uniqueidentifier assigned to the client system 14 that uniquely identifiesclient system 14 making the request. The request can be made in responseto linking and/or accessing a particular website and/or by submittingthe request through user interface 62.

In step 422, an access limit is identified for each of the clickableadvertisements that are responsive to the received request. Based on thereceived request, main server system 12 can identify an appropriatehandler 22 and database server 24 for servicing the request. Handler 22accesses database server 24, which can includes a list of availableclickable advertisements, to identify the clickable advertisements(including EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information) responsive to the request and toidentify the access limits associated with those clickableadvertisements.

In step 424, for each of the clickable advertisements responsive to therequest, it is determined how many times each clickable advertisementhas been clicked on by client application software 28 and/or clientsystem 14 based on the associated DeviceID data 30. This information canbe determined by checking the values of the counters held in databaseserver 24 for each clickable advertisement corresponding to DeviceIDdata 30 provided in the request.

In step 426, clickable advertisements are made available to therequesting client system 14 that have been accessed (i.e., clicked on)by client system 14 fewer times than the access limit. To determine if aclickable advertisement should be made available, main server system 12compares the identified access limit to the determined number ofaccesses set in the corresponding counter. If the access limit isgreater than the determined number of accesses set in the correspondingcounter, then the clickable advertisement is made available to therequesting client system 14. On the other hand, if the access limit isequal to (or less than) the determined number of accesses set in thecorresponding counter, then the clickable advertisement is not madeavailable to the requesting client system 14. The clickableadvertisements made available to the client system 14 can be viewed, forexample, in advertising pane 72 and/or logo pane 74. Each of theclickable advertisements made available to client system 14 can beaccessed, i.e., clicked on, by the user at client system 14.

In step 428, in addition to making the clickable advertisement availableto be clicked on by the user at client system 14, if the clickableadvertisement is EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information, then the user is permittedto print EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information as well. To print EPGS-GM-CL/I-SNinformation, the user can select the “Print Now” button 80, which printsthe EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information currently being viewed on printer 46. Instep 430, in response to the click of the clickable advertisement, thecounter associated with that clickable advertisement and correspondingto DeviceID data 30 of client application software 28 and/or clientsystem 14 is incremented. More specifically, client application software28 can generate a signal to main server system 12 indicating that theclickable advertisement has been clicked on, and based on that signalthe server increments the applicable counter in database server 24. Thesignal can include information identifying the clickable advertisement,as well as DeviceID data 30 of client system 14. Accordingly, each timea clickable advertisement is clicked on, the counter associated with theclickable advertisement is incremented, and once the count in thecounter reaches the access limit, the user at that client system 14 isno longer permitted to click on that clickable advertisement. It shouldbe noted that client system 14 can be a client computer.

The method for controlling access to advertisement in a network caninclude assigning an identifier to a client computer and receiving arequest from client application software 28 operating on the clientcomputer to access the advertisement. The request can include theidentifier assigned to the client computer. The advertisement can havean access limit. The method can also include determining the number oftimes that the advertisement has been accessed by the client computerbased on the identifier. The method can further include comparing thenumber of times the advertisement has been accessed to the access limitand providing the client computer with access to the advertisement basedon the comparison. The method can also include sending to the clientcomputer the advertisement if the access limit has not been exceeded.The method can further include transferring the user to a websitecorresponding to the advertisement if the access limit has not beenexceeded. The method can further include refusing access for the clientcomputer to the advertisement if the access limit has been met and/orexceeded. The method can also include sending to the client computer amessage indicating that access has been refused. The method can alsoinclude incrementing the access counter based on receiving the requestfrom the client application operating on the client computer to accessthe advertisement. The method can further include transmitting anadvertisement access report to a remote server. The method can furtherinclude the identifier being assigned to the client computer by theclient application. The method can also include that the identifierbeing assigned to the client computer is not one of a DeviceID data 30and/or an Internet protocol address. The method can also includeencrypting the advertisement at a server to generate a first encryptedadvertisement and further encrypting the first encrypted advertisementat the client computer to generate a second encrypted advertisement.

The system for monitoring access to an advertisement can includeprocessing circuit configured to determine an advertisement access limitand the number of times the advertisement has been accessed, accordingto an exemplary embodiment. The system can further include processingcircuit being configured to be partially operated on a server, accordingto an exemplary embodiment. The system can also include processingcircuit being configured to be partially operated on a client computingdevice, according to an exemplary embodiment. The system can furtherinclude processing circuit being configured to receive a request toaccess an advertisement, according to an exemplary embodiment. Therequest can include an identifier assigned to the computing device,according to an exemplary embodiment. Processing circuit can determinethe number of times that the advertisement has been accessed by thecomputing device based on the identifier, according to an exemplaryembodiment. Processing circuit can generate a comparison based on anaccess counter module/circuit data and an access limit module/circuitdata, according to an exemplary embodiment. Processing circuit cantransmits an access control signal based on the comparison, according toan exemplary embodiment. The system can also include processing circuitdetermining that the access limit has not been exceeded based on thecomparison and transmits the advertisement to the computing device,according to an exemplary embodiment. The system can further include theuser being transferred to a website corresponding to the advertisementbased on a request for more information, according to an exemplaryembodiment. The system can also include processing circuit determiningthat the access limit has been exceeded and the advertisement is notsent to the computing device, according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 15B illustrates a process similar to the one in FIG. 15A. Like theprocess of FIG. 15A, in step 432 of FIG. 15B, a request is received fromthe client application software 28 to view clickable advertisements, therequest including DeviceID data 30 that uniquely identifies clientsystem 14 making the request. However, instead of checking the accesslimit of responsive clickable advertisements, all clickableadvertisements that are responsive to the request are made available tothe requesting client system 14 in step 434. To determine whichclickable advertisements are responsive, main server system 12 canidentify an appropriate handler 22 and database server 24 for servicingthe request. Handler 22 can access database server 24 to identify theclickable advertisements responsive to the request. The user at clientsystem 14 can try to click on any of the clickable advertisement madeavailable to client system 14.

In step 436, in response to clicking on a selected clickableadvertisement, a request is received by main server system 12 for accessto that clickable advertisement. The request can include informationidentifying the selected clickable advertisement, as well as DeviceIDdata 30 of the requesting client system 14. In step 438, in response tothe received request, an access limit is identified for the selectedclickable advertisement. More particularly, main server system 12 canidentify an appropriate handler 22 to access database server 24 andidentify the access limits associated with the selected clickableadvertisement. In step 440, it is determined how many times the selectedclickable advertisement has been clicked on by client applicationsoftware 28 and/or client system 14 based on the associated DeviceIDdata 30. This information can be determined by checking the values ofthe counter held in database server 24 for the selected clickableadvertisement corresponding to DeviceID data 30 provided in the request.

In step 442, the user is permitted to click on and access the selectedclickable advertisement if it is determined that the clickableadvertisement has been accessed by client system 14 fewer times than theaccess limit. To determine if a clickable advertisement should be madeavailable, main server system 12 compares the identified access limit tothe determined number of accesses (i.e., clicks) set in thecorresponding counter. If the access limit is greater than thedetermined number of accesses set in the corresponding counter, then theuser is permitted to click on and access the clickable advertisement atthe requesting client system 14. On the other hand, if the access limitis equal to (or less than) the determined number of accesses set in thecorresponding counter, then the user is not permitted to click on andaccess the clickable advertisement at client system 14. If permitted toclick on and access the clickable advertisement, and the clickableadvertisement is EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information, then the user can print oradd to a cart the EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information, for example, by selectingthe “Print Now” button 80, which prints the EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN informationcurrently being viewed on printer 46.

In step 444, in response to the click of a clickable advertisement, thecounter associated with that clickable advertisement and correspondingto DeviceID data 30 of client application software 28 and/or clientsystem 14 is incremented. More specifically, client application software28 can generate a signal to main server system 12 indicating that theaccessed clickable advertisement has been clicked on, and based on thatsignal main server system 12 increments the applicable counter indatabase server 24. The signal can include information identifying theclickable advertisement, as well as DeviceID data 30 of client system14.

Accordingly, each time a clickable advertisement is clicked on andaccessed, the counter associated with the clickable advertisement isincremented, and once the count in the counter reaches the access limit,no user at that client system 14 is permitted to click on and accessthat clickable advertisement.

The method for controlling access to a clickable advertisement in anetwork includes assigning a computer identifier to a client computerand receiving a request from client application software 28 operating onthe client computer to access the clickable advertisement. The requestincludes the computer identifier assigned to the client computer. Theclickable advertisement having an access limit. The access limit beingthe number of times that the client computer is permitted to access theclickable advertisement. The method can include determining the numberof times that the clickable advertisement has been accessed by theclient computer based on the computer identifier. The method also caninclude comparing the number of times the clickable advertisement hasbeen accessed to the access limit. The method can include providing theclient computer with access to the clickable advertisement based on thecomparison and storing the comparison.

The method can further include sending to the client computer theclickable advertisement based on the comparison because the comparisondetermined that the access limit has not been exceeded.

The method can further include transferring the user to a websitecorresponding to the clickable advertisement based on the comparisonbecause the comparison determined that the access limit has not beenexceeded. The method can further include refusing access for the clientcomputer to the clickable advertisement based on the comparison becausethe comparison determined that the access limit has been exceeded. Themethod can also include sending a message to the client computerindicating that access has been refused. The method can further includeincrementing an access counter based on receiving the request fromclient application software 28 operating on the client computer toaccess the clickable advertisement. The method can further includetransmitting a clickable advertisement access report.

Referring to FIG. 16, a flow diagram 600 of the process for controllingclicks to a clickable advertisement is shown, according to an exemplaryembodiment. In step 602, the system loads an offers list onto the clientdevice, a server, and/or another computing device. An offers list is aset of advertisements, EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN information, websites, and/or anyother offers. In step 604, the system detects the cart control of theclient device, server, and/or another computing device. In step 606, thesystem determines whether the cart manager are installed. If the cartmanager are installed, then the process moves to step 608. In step 608,the system installs the cart manager and receives DeviceID data 30 andsave it on client device, server, and/or another computing device. Afterinstalling cart manager and receiving DeviceID data 30 (step 608), theprocess moves to step 612. If the print manager will not be installed,then the process moves to step 610. In step 610, the system determineswhether the cart manager is already installed. If the cart manager isnot already installed, the process moves to step 614. In step 614, thesystem receives DeviceID data 30 and saves it on client device, server,and/or another computing device. In step 616, the system receives theoffering lists, limits per DeviceID data 30 and click limits perDeviceID data 30. If the cart manager is already installed, the processmoves to step 612. In step 612, the system receives the offering listsper DeviceID data 30 and click limits per DeviceID data 30. In step 618,the system determines whether the device limit has been reached. If thedevice limit has been reached, then in step 620 the system disablesaccess to the data requested by that device. If the device limit has notbeen reached, then the process moves to step 622. In step 622, thesystem determines whether the campaign limit has been reached. Acampaign limit can be a promotional limit, a budget limit, a sales limitand/or any other limit placed on the advertisement. If the campaignlimit has been reached, then the system in step 626 disables access tothe data for all devices. If the system determines that the campaignlimit has not been reached, then the system in step 624 registers theaccess to the data.

Referring to FIG. 17, illustrations of a screen display defining aninterface associated with a client system portion are shown, accordingto exemplary embodiments, e.g., as Social Earth. FIG. 17 is similar toFIGS. 3A and 3B with the added feature of being able to utilize a pulldown menus 652, 654, 656, and 658 to retrieve EPGS-GM-CL/I-SNinformation data. It is to be understood that the above description ismerely exemplary rather than limiting in nature, the disclosure beinglimited only by the appended claims. Various modifications and changescan be made thereto by one of ordinary skill in the art, which embodythe principles of the disclosure and fall within the spirit and scopethereof. For example, one and/or more steps described herein as beingperformed by client system 14 and/or main server system 12 can beperformed by the other of client system 14 and/or main server system 12,and/or by both.

For example, a thin client can be operable on client system 14 tointerface with main server system 12. A thin client is a client computerand/or client software in client-server architecture networks, whichdepends primarily on the central server for processing activities, andmainly focuses on conveying input and output between the user and theremote server. In contrast, a thick and/or fat client does as muchprocessing as possible and passes only data for communications andstorage to the server. Many thin client devices run only web browsersand/or remote desktop software, meaning that all significant processingoccurs on the server.

The present invention provides in one aspect a delivery system for ageospatial website for a multidimensional representation of informationand/or scalable versions of web content for the delivery of Educationalrelated Products, Goods, and/or Services combined with /GeospatialMapping/Company-Local Information/Social Networking/Communities(“EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN”) on a three dimensional geospatial platform usinggeospatial mapping technology. One example of an aspect of the inventionis a geospatial website that aggregates, inter alia, ad links,promotions, online coupons, mobile services, Educational relatedProducts, Goods, and/or Services or services, including withoutlimitation, such items as service providers, business centers andaffiliates for related company information, media and entertainment,sports, personal & financial network, travel & hospitality services,real estate, educational services, ancillary services, penny auctions oronline auctions, advertisements, service providers, social networking,social networking communities, social plugins, ad links, promotions,social applications, entertainment shopping, penny auctions or onlineauctions, advertisements and affiliate advertising or services, socialnetworking, social networking communities, online communications,messaging, user profiles, viewing public & private user profiles, onlinedating, gaming, retail stores, virtual communities and virtual goods andinformation about microloans or microcredit, humanitarian aid andsupport other worldly causes through charitable donations or sustainablegifts to those in need (collectively “Educational related Products,Goods, and/or Services”) from around the world and/or showcases them intheir actual, physical location on the websites live view of Earth incombination with social networking and/or socially conscious informationand/or activities. The present invention addresses problems and/orshortcomings of online products, goods, or services, which should alsoprovide socially conscious information about the companies that supplythe coupons so that consumers can see where the companies and/or storesare located and can find out information about the companies,communities they are located in, what interaction and help they provideto communities and/or other economic and/or socially responsibleactivities, and to associate the geographical and other geospatiallyavailable information connecting also by the use of integrated socialmedia, which combination is not current provided and/or available.

As users and members and/or subscribers of the website, (e.g., “SocialShoppers”) shop the world for bargains, they can view ad links,promotions, online coupons, mobile services, Educational relatedProducts, Goods, and/or Services or services for such items as e.g., butnot limited to, family fun, spoils, restaurants, events and/or hundredsof top consumer packaged goods brand/branders for, e.g., but not limitedto, groceries, apparel, beverages, books & magazines, foods, healthcare, household, office, personal care, pet care, photography and/or thelike. Such users and members and/or subscribers (e.g., “SocialShoppers”) can find great ad links, promotions, online coupons, mobileservices, Educational related Products, Goods, and/or Services orservices from merchants and sellers from around the world in the leadingtravel & hospitality industry, restaurants, toy and/or entertainmentcompanies and/or top retailers around the world. The delivery system fora host geospatial website can provide for a multidimensionalrepresentation of information and/or scalable version of web content foran infrastructure and global platform that provides users and membersand businesses of all types and sizes with access to broad markets andconnect buyers and sellers and to reach people at the point of shoppingthrough GPS technology—a benefit both to shoppers and merchants anddelivery of ad links, promotions, online coupons, mobile services,Educational related Products, Goods, and/or Services or services frommerchants and sellers from around the world on a three dimensionalgeospatial platform using geospatial mapping technology. A hostgeospatial website can include realistic virtual landscape usingsatellite and/or aerial photography that can include many content layersof web based information, e-commerce and mobile banking links, socialnetworking, social networking communities, social plugins, ad links,promotions, social applications and/or advertisements for a richer userexperience. A host website shall store images, web-based content, socialdata and/or share live social feeds from social networks and/or othercommunications in real-time. Connecting ad links, promotions, onlinecoupons, mobile services Educational related Products, Goods, and/orServices or services from merchants and sellers from around the worldwith a highly-engaged social networking community of savvy SocialShoppers based upon a desired location in real-time on a geographicalarea across multiple social layers that are displayed as graphicanimated color overlays on a three dimensional geospatial platform usinggeospatial mapping technology.” The invention can also provide mobilepayment method and/or system for effectuating an online payment througha mobile device to complete an e-commerce and mobile banking transactionon a three dimensional geospatial platform using geospatial mappingtechnology.

The invention can further provide in one aspect geospatial websiteaggregates ad links, promotions, online coupons, mobile services,Educational related Products, Goods, and/or Services or services frommerchants and sellers from around the world and/or showcases them intheir actual, physical location on the websites unique live view ofEarth. As users and members and/or subscribers shop the world forbargains, they can view online ad links, promotions, online coupons,mobile services, Educational related Products, Goods, and/or Services orservices for such items as family fun, sports, restaurants, eventsand/or hundreds of top consumer packaged goods brand/branders forgroceries, apparel, beverages, books & magazines, foods, health care,household, office, personal care, pet care, photography and/or more!Social Shoppers can to find great product, goods or services deals fromleading travel & hospitality, restaurant, toy and/or entertainmentcompanies and/or top retailers around the world. Social Shoppers can touse “a mobile device payment method and/or system for effectuating anonline payment through a computer or mobile device equipped carrierand/or a mobile device equipped bank using a mobile users and membersdevice in connection with e-commerce and mobile banking transactions onthe host geospatial website via a computer or mobile device (e.g.,mobile telephone, PDA, laptop computer, etc.); wherein users and memberscreate and/or maintain a rich-media application via a geospatial mappingplatform via the Internet comprising: mobile banking and/or electronicpayments. The delivery system for a host geospatial website can providefor a multidimensional representation of information and/or sealableversion of web content for the delivery of ad links, promotions, onlinecoupons, mobile services, Educational related Products, Goods, and/orServices or services from merchants and sellers from around the world ona three dimensional geospatial platform using geospatial mappingtechnology. A host geospatial website can include realistic virtuallandscape using satellite and/or aerial photography that can includemany content layers of web based information, e-commerce and mobilebanking links, social networking and/or virtual advertisements for aricher user experience.

A host geospatial website shall store images, web-based content, socialdata, social networking, social networking communities, ad links,promotions, social applications, user profiles, messaging, viewingpublic & private user profiles and live social feeds from socialnetworks such as Facebook™ and Twitter™, social plugins, socialapplications, advertisements and/or other communications based upon adesired location in real-time. Connecting ad links, promotions, onlinecoupons, mobile services, Educational related Products, Goods, and/orServices or services with merchants and sellers from around the worldwith Social Shoppers based upon a desired location in real-time on ageographical area across multiple social layers that are displayed asgraphic animated color overlays on a three dimensional geospatialplatform using geospatial mapping technology. More specifically, itrelates to a method for users and members known as “Social Shoppers” toeffectuate banking and/or electronic payments; accessing a user account,engaging in mobile social networking, social networking communities,social networking activities and/or viewing user profiles, sendingmessages, online communications, viewing public & private user profilesand other available options via a three dimensional geospatial mappingplatform using geospatial mapping technology.

The foregoing description of exemplary embodiments of the disclosure hasbeen presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is notintended to be exhaustive and/or to limit the disclosure to the preciseform disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in lightof the above teachings and/or can be acquired from practice of thedisclosure. The embodiments (which can be practiced separately and/or incombination) were chosen and described in order to explain theprinciples of the disclosure and as a practical application to enableone skilled in the art to make and use the disclosure in variousembodiments and with various modifications suited to the particular usescontemplated. It is intended that the scope of the disclosure is notlimited to the disclosure herein, but covers any embodiment expressed toone of ordinary skill in the relevant arts in combination with what isknown in the art, and their equivalents.

A Geographic Information System (GIS) (Also Called Geographic MappingAnd/or “GM”) is a computer technology that provides an analyticalframework for managing and integrating data, solving problems, and/orunderstanding past, present, and/or future situations. A GIS can linkinformation and/or attributes to location data (hereinafter referred toas a “feature”), for example, people to addresses, buildings to parcels,and/or streets within a network. GIS and/or GM can further layer suchinformation to present a better and/or clearer understanding of how manydifferent variables interrelate and/or work together. Layers can be inthe form of colored and/or textured overlays, graphics, icons, graphs,and/or other visual indicators of data in context with a geographiclocation associated with the data. GIS and geospatial technologies areused in the present invention in all fields such as, but not limited to,business and marketing, emergency management, environmental planning,geo-intelligence and security, risk assessment, urban planning andutilities management, as well as industries such as telecommunications,utilities, transportation, education and scientific research constitutesome of the largest consumers of this technology, and through itsapplication in numerous daily tasks, as well as logistics companiesusing it to plan optimal delivery routes, insurance industry to assessrisk and vulnerability with geospatial data, the retail sector tounderstand its customer base to provide more efficient services, whilein the communications realm, location-specific applications such asFoursquare, Microsoft GeoLife and Google Buzz on cell phones or socialmedia websites help diffuse this technology to the general public. Theinvention also includes future growth in the geospatial technologiesindustry including building capacity and developing broad citizen accessto the technology, constructing innovative value-added applications tohelp businesses make informed decisions, gathering and sharing reliablegeospatial data, and training a capable work force, as well as theInternet and advances in information and communications technologiesalso can be included in its expansion. The invention also can includethe purchase and use of place-based GIS-generated products withoutnecessarily being familiar with the technology itself, such the use ofGPS or Internet-based maps to locate a particular business outlet, whileuser access and awareness can stimulate a greater demand for newapplications of this technology, which will fuel innovation, and adomino effect can help the industry expand into new markets. User accessto geospatial technologies and data are slowly revolutionizing how weview the world. GIS has restored the importance of understandingpeople-place interactions in an array of activities and decision-makingprocesses. With such value and possibility, leaders and users of thistechnology should promote its application as broadly as possible.

A GIS and/or GM is most often associated with maps formed within aframework of a common coordinate system, such as the World GeodeticSystem 1984 (WGS84). Reference locations within the framework can bespecified by and/or translated to and/or from locations defined within acommon coordinate system, so as to allow integration of disparate dataand functionality with a geospatial browser. A map, however, is only oneway a user can work with geographic data in a GIS and/or GM and is onlyone type of output generated by a GIS and/or GM. Furthermore, a GISand/or GM can provide many more problem-solving capabilities than usinga simple mapping program and/or adding data to an online mapping tool(e.g., in a “mash-up”).

Generally, a GIS and/or GM can be viewed in at least three ways, (1) asa database; (2) as a map; and/or (3) as a model. As a database, a GISprovides a unique kind of database relating to the Earth and/or othermapped region, such as a geographic database and/or geo-database.Fundamentally, a GM is based on a structured database that describes themapped region in geographic terms. GM maps can be either two and/orthree dimensional in presentation. GM maps are generally constructed of“tiles” that are unit areas of a geographic region. Tiles can beidentified in the database by coordinate boundaries and/or individualreference identifications allocated to each tile. The number of tilescovering a particular geographic region will vary depending upon theresolution of the map requested; a high resolution map (e.g., 1 m) of ageographic area will have substantially more tiles than a lowerresolution map of the same area. Maps combining the underlyinggeographic information with overlays of associated data can beconstructed and used as “windows into the database” to support queries,analysis, and editing of the information in a process called“geo-visualization.” As a model, a GM is a set of informationtransformation and/or “geo-processing” tools that derive new geographicdatasets from existing datasets. This geo-processing functionality cantake information from existing datasets, apply analytic functions, andwrite results into new derived datasets that show features and featurerelationships with the mapped region and present the results to a user.

A GM allows mapping of locations and things and identification of placeswith requested features. GIS mapping can provide information aboutindividual feature and/or present a distribution of features on a map toidentify patterns. GM and/or GIS mapping can be based upon and/orfiltered by quantities, for example, locations of most and least of afeature. GM and/or GIS mapping can also find and establish relationshipsbetween places, features, conditions, and/or events and determine wherecertain criteria are met and/or not met. GM and/or GIS mapping can alsopresent densities to view concentrations. A density map allowsmeasurement of a number of features using a uniform area unit, such asacres and/or square miles, to clearly present the distribution. Thisfunctionality provides an additional level of information beyond simplymapping the locations of features.

GM and/or GIS can also be used to depict events occurring within and/ornearby an area. For example, a district attorney might monitordrug-related arrests to find out if an arrest is within 1,000 feet of aschool; if so, stiffer penalties can apply. GM and/or GIS can be used todetermine items within a set distance of a feature by mapping an areawithin a range of the feature. GM and/or GIS can also be used to map thechange in an area to anticipate future conditions, decide on a course ofaction, and/or to evaluate the results of an action and/or policy. Bymapping where and how things move over a period of time, insight intotrends and/or behaviors can be gained.

GM and/or GIS can be used to map changes to anticipate future needs. Forexample, a police chief might study how crime patterns change from monthto month to help decide where officers should be assigned. GM and/or GIScan also be used to map conditions before and after an action and/orevent to see the impact. For example, a retail analyst might map thechange in store sales before and after a regional ad campaign to seewhere the ads were most effective.

A GM and/or GIS can be implemented in a geospatial decision managementsystem (GDMS) 100, shown in FIG. 18 to provide the geo-processing powerand infrastructure to process the data and render geo-visualizations ofthe data in a user interface. The GDMS 100 of FIG. 18 can be implementedin a combination of a server computer system 102, one and/or more clientcomputer systems 104, and various data sources 106, 108, and 110. GDMSdata can be saved in the GDMS server system 102 and/or in a datastore106, 108, and 110 at a local and/or remote location. The data sources106 and 108 are depicted as local to the server system 102, whereas thedata source 110 is depicted as coupled remotely to the server system 102via a communications network 112. GDMS data can also be cached in aproxy server.

The client system 104 can be coupled remotely to the server system 102via a communication network 114 (or alternatively, the samecommunications network 112), although a local connection between theclient system 104 and the server system 102 can be employed. It shouldbe understood that multiple client systems can be coupled with theserver system 102 concurrently. It should also be understood that theclient system 104 and server system 102 can be implemented in anintegrated system. The network connection 114, such as an Internetconnection, can be used by GDMS client systems 104 to access the data(e.g., data defining layers and/or providing financial information,chemical concentrations, test results, project state reports, etc.) atthe remote data sources 106, 108, 110, directly and/or through anintermediate computing system (e.g., a proxy server and/or GDMS server).

The client computer 104 can be coupled to an intermediate server, suchas a proxy server 118. The proxy server 118 can be positioned betweenthe client computer 104 and the server system 102. The proxy server 118intercepts all requests to the server system 102 to see if it canfulfill the requests itself with cached data from prior requests. Ifnot, the proxy server 118 forwards the request to the server system 102to be fulfilled. The proxy server 204 can also be coupled to thecommunications network 114 and accessed by the client computer 104 andthe server system 102 via the network 114. Firewalls 116 can also beimplemented between the server system 102 and the client computer 104and the network 114 for an added layer of security.

The connection can be established as a secure connection between theclient system 104 and the server 102 and/or the remote data sources 106,108 and 110. The secure connection can be accomplished by a variety ofdifferent methods including, but not limited to, authentication codesand passwords, secure user management tools, firewalls, userauthentication, secure user management tools, user pathway mappingand/or encryption, etc. In another example, the server system 102 caninclude an administrative website that can allow authorized users andmembers to manipulate and assign user rights (e.g., an administrativetier). The server system 102 can also include a security feature, forexample, an access control module 136 to establish, control, and monitoraccess by client computers 104 to certain data stored within and/oraccessible within the GDMS 100. Access control can be governed by anadministrator and/or it can be an automated function of the accesscontrol module 136 based upon attributes of the data requested andpermissions held by the user as further described below.

The server system 102 can represent one and/or more hardware andsoftware servers providing multiple server functions. In addition, oneand/or more of the server system 102, the client system 104, and thedatabases 106, 108 and 110 can form an N-tier system. The server system102 can also include a web server application subsystem, whereby WorldWide Web-enabled applications can provide various aspects offunctionality of the GDMS 100. For example, the server system 102 canprovide a website where content creators and/or generators can uploadgeospatially-related data that can be transformed into featuresreferenced to locations within a map of the GDMS 100 for access throughthe client system 104 connected to the GDMS 100 for geo-visualization ofthe information. In an alternative implementation, the client system 104can be implemented as a “thick” client and execute client-installedsoftware for some and/or all of the functionality of the GDMS 100.

A monitor 120, coupled to the client system 104, presents a GDMSinterface 122 constructed from data and functionality received throughthe server system 102. When a user is working within a GDMS 100, s/he issaid to be in a GDMS session. The GDMS interface 122 can be generated bya GDMS application executing on the client system 104 and/oralternatively through a server-executed GDMS application that providesthe interface components over the network to a dumb terminal and/or abrowser application running on the client system 104. The GDMS interface122 can be a geospatial browser window including a map 124 (e.g., aglobe in this illustration), a geo-visualization of data as a layer 126and individual features 128 on the map 124, a layer manager 130 forselecting data and other features from the databases 106, 108, 110. TheGDMS view can also include tool palettes 132 and 134, which can bedistinct features of the browser interface, browser plug-ins, and/orseparate utilities and/or applications.

In one implementation, the GDMS interface 122 can be in the form of ageospatial browser window and one and/or more geospatially-referencedtools. Access to the data and/or functionality is provided bygeospatially-referenced tools (e.g., tool palettes 132 and 134) that areassociated with and triggered in relation to a specific location in acommon coordinate system (e.g., WGS84 and/or some other sharedcoordinate system) shared by the tools and the geospatial browser. Forexample, a tool can provide chemical analysis results pertaining to soilsamples taken from the location over time. In another example, a toolcan retrieve and analyze financial data pertaining to a constructionproject on a specified region on the map (e.g., a location). The dataavailable to such tools is provided from a variety of data sources andassociated with each location within the common coordinate system of theGDMS system 100, such as through specified coordinates (e.g., longitudeand latitude), other geographic constraints, and/or organizationalconstraints (e.g., a project identifier of a project having a specificgeographic location and/or constraint, a feature identifier of a featurehaving a specific geographic location and/or constraint, etc.). In thismanner, the user can view a location through the geospatial browser andaccess data and/or functionality associated with a location that isaccessible through the tools in the browser. These locations can be thesame location and/or distinct locations.

FIG. 19 further illustrates an example of a GDMS 200 for accessingspecific data and/or information within a database based on theassociation of the information with geospatial coordinates. Again, theGDMS 200 can be implemented by a GM and/or GIS server system 202 incommunication with a GM and/or GIS client computer 204 over acommunication network 208, e.g., the Internet. The GM and/or GIS clientcomputer 204 can be used to access information in a decision managementdatastore (DMD) 206 connected with the GM and/or GIS server system 202.The communication network 208 ideally provides the GM and/or GIS clientcomputer 204 with high-speed access to indexed data on the DMD 206.

The GM and/or GIS server system 202 can also include a security feature,for example, an access control module 222 to establish, control, andmonitor access by GM and/or GIS client computers 204 to certain datastored within and/or accessible via the DMD 206. Access control can begoverned by an administrator and/or it can be an automated functionbased upon attributes of the data requested and permissions held by theuser as further described below

The data retrieved from the DMD 206 can be presented in a user interface210, 216, 222, 224 (of which four exemplary configurations are presentedin FIG. 19 at the GM and/or GIS client computer 204. A feature presentedin the user interface 210 (e.g., a geospatial coordinate and/orgeographic location) on the client computer 204 can be used to accessinformation indexed by features using the DMD 206.

The GM and/or GIS client computer 204 can access the indexed data in theDMD 206 by using applications and/or plug-ins, such as technicalinterfaces 210, 216 and management interfaces 222, 224. The technicalinterfaces 210, 216 can be used to access technical data associated withparticular features. In exemplary implementations such technical datamight be biochemical, geochemical, hydro-geological, and/or otherphysical data on analytes. The management interfaces 118, 120 can beused to access business management data. In exemplary implementationssuch management data might be business and organizational documents anddata associated with particular features. Several examples of the use ofsuch tools to interface with the DMD 206 and extract the data arepresented below.

As shown in the first technical interface 210 in FIG. 19, if the GMand/or GIS client computer 204 requests information about a particularfeature, such as a ground water well located near an airport 212, the GMand/or GIS client computer 204 can select the feature 214, i.e., theground water well, to receive information related to that feature 214.The first technical interface 210 can include a concentric area datatool that can provide technical data related to the ground water wellfeature 214, for example, latitude and longitude, physical inspectiondata, water level information, and water contamination information, in athe form of information windows and visual geographic informationoverlays on a base location map. In an alternate implementation shown inthe second technical interface 216, technical data concerning an area ofland 220 around, adjacent, and/or near the airport 218 at the locationof the feature 214, for example, landscaping, slope, soil composition,and/or grading information can be presented.

In a further implementation shown in a first management interface 222, acontract management concentric data tool can provide management databased upon the selected feature 214, for example, information onconstruction and/or work in progress, zoning and/or easementinformation, and/or information on any contracts applicable to thefeature 214. In a further implementation shown in a second managementinterface 224, a finance management concentric data tool 120 can alsoprovide management data relating to financial information applying tothe feature 214 selected, for example, costs of past repairs and/orcurrent maintenance fees. In some implementations the managementinterfaces 222, 224 can further comprise a real-time link to a videocamera providing a view of the selected feature 214 and any constructionand/or activity occurring at the selected feature 214.

The GDMS shown in FIGS. 20 and 21 is an innovative, GM and/or GIS-basedmanagement decision support tool that optimizes the geo-processing andgeo-visualization of available GM and/or GIS data, for example, naturalresources, building resources, time-management resources, personnelresources, financial resources, and information resources, and others.The GDMS can enable a GM and/or GIS client to easily visualize andinterpret large, multifaceted, and complex information sets in order tomake comparative analyses of alternatives, identify potentialliabilities and opportunities, and optimize program strategies.

The GDMS provides full convergence, and/or integration, of multiple(essentially limitless) disparate data sets within a single virtualthree-dimensional (geospatial) model. The disparate data sets, and evensub-data sets within them, can be organized by association with relevantfeatures on the model. For example, groundwater analytical data can beassociated with a given groundwater well; building data can beassociated with a given building; installation information can beassociated with the installation; and command information can beassociated with the command. The GDMS full data convergence allows datato be accessed relative to position, scale, resolution, time, and othergeospatial attributes and serves as an extremely intuitive and efficientway to organize and access essentially limitless quantities ofinformation.

The GDMS allows queries, filters, and comparisons of data to becompleted at the GM and/or GIS server system and then visuallyrepresented in three dimensions in near real time at the GM and/or GISclient device. The three-dimensional representation of data helps usersand members gain a better understanding of the meaning contained withinthe data more rapidly than using traditional tabular and/ortwo-dimensional representations of data. The GDMS thus allows themeaning represented in the three-dimensional data to be rapidlycommunicated to users and members.

The GDMS improves on traditional closed and/or organization-specific GMand/or GIS by affording live connections to multiple databases. As thedatabases are updated, the representations afforded by GDMS can thus becurrent. This allows a fourth dimension, time, to be factored intoresource management decisions. Time is an important additional datafactor because previous “views” of the data can be compared to current“views” of the data, in order to gain an understanding of the rates ofchange (or dynamics) of the real system. In other words, the GDMS allowsfor differences between time states to be understood and factored into adecision process.

In FIG. 18 a GDMS 100 can be used to provide access to specific sectionswithin documents, which are associated with a particular geographiccoordinate, e.g., Educational related Products, Goods, and/orServices-Geographic Mapping-Company/Local Information-Social Networking(PSR-GM-C/L-SN) information. More specifically, a GDMS 100 user (or GMand/or GIS client) can select a specific location and/or ‘feature’ on amap and be directed to Educational related Products, Goods, and/orServices-Geographic Mapping-Company/Local Information-Social Networking(PSR-GM-C/L&SC-SN) information, e.g., information and/or documents, aswell as entire sets of information and/or documents themselvesassociated with a promotion, online coupons, mobile services, Products,goods, or services, for related company and/or local information,including socially conscious information, which contain data and/orinformation relevant to that specific ‘feature’ and/or locationselected. Said another way, specific relevant data can be provided to auser based upon the ‘feature’ selected, not just based upon atraditional search query. Thus, GDMS 100 links and/or ties a ‘feature,’and/or specific geographic location, to an indexed database of data.Examples of documents that can have a geospatial associated, but are notamenable to layered geo-visualization can include one and/or morecomponents of Educational related Products, Goods, and/orServices-Geographic Mapping-Company/Local Information-Social Networking(PSR-GM-C/L&SC-SN) information, e.g., but not limited to, ad links,promotions, online coupons, mobile services, Educational relatedProducts, Goods, and/or Services or services, product information,socially conscious information about companies, their Educationalrelated Products, Goods, and/or Services, local cities and/orcommunities, and/or the like, e.g., real estate contracts concerning aparticular property, title records, covenants, plats, zoningregulations, construction plans, and others. The specific relevant dataprovided to a user can comprise only portions and/or sections ofdocuments, maps, and/or images related to that specific ‘feature’selected. This can greatly increase efficiency of GM and/or GIS bytaking a user directly to a relevant section of a document, which can behundreds and/or thousands of pages in length.

The GDMS speeds the process of bringing discordant stakeholder groups toconsensus by providing real-time and highly comprehensible (due to thevisual output) answers to questions offered in meetings and/or anynetworking and/or social networking methods, systems and/or resources.Moreover, the technology introduced in the GDMS yields truly optimalsolutions to highly complex and nonlinear physical problems usingreasonable computational times and resources, including associatingcompany, local and product and/or service information, comprising socialconscious information, data, and other resources. The modular design ofGDMS permits coupling to virtually any simulation code. The GDMS canalso be linked to and implemented within user-friendly andwidely-accepted graphical user interfaces (GUIs) including web browserapplications.

As should be apparent from the above discussion, the GDMS is a powerfultool that can be used to access enormous quantities of data stored atremote locations. When using the GDMS, control access to data stored atremote locations, for example, an access control module 222 as depictedin FIG. 19 can be implemented. An administrator of the data stored atthe remote location to have server-side control over varying levels ofaccess to data. Thus, in some implementations, access control can beexercised on the server-side; however, in other implementations thislevel of access control can be exercised on the client side. Further,access control can also be exercised at/by a given database. It can alsobe desirable to have different levels of authorization to control dataaccess for employees having different roles within an organization. Forexample, a higher level officer, such as a supervisor and/or general,can have unlimited access to classified data, while entry-levelemployees can only have access to non-classified data. These levels ofauthorization can be created and adjusted by an administrator to permitvarying levels of access to the data.

The GDMS can specifically establish different levels of access to thedata can be controlled for each individual and/or can be controlled ingroups (e.g., hierarchically) by the administrator and can be createdand maintained using operations implemented within the access controlmodule 222.

The varying levels of accessibility to data can be controlled using anumber of different methods including, but not limited to,authentication codes and passwords, secure user management tools,firewalls, user authentication, user pathway mapping, and/or encryption.The levels of access control to the data can also be controlled by thecreation of an individual profile for each user identifying the user'srole in the organization and specifying their level of access to thedata. Then, when a user logs onto a system, their level of access todata can be known by the system and the user can then only be able toview and/or access data that was commensurate with their level ofauthorization.

The layers of data can also be saved so that other authorized users andmembers can access the saved layers to view and make additional changesto (or comments on) the layers and then save those additional changes.This allows a given user to open the selected state, make changes,alterations, and comments, and save this new altered state for reviewand potential further modification by others. Certain GDMS view statedata and/or functionality can and/or can not be accessible to and/or beeditable by a user based upon access permissions that have been grantedto and/or withheld from the user.

In one implementation, access to the different map tiles and/or layersof data can be based upon the scale and/or resolution of the map and/orlayer, i.e., access is ‘scale-driven.’ The contextual and/or ‘smart’layers of data can be turned on and/or off by an administrator basedupon the authorization to access each layer of data. A user's ability tochange and/or alter the layers of data can also be dependent upon theirlevel of authorization.

With reference now to FIG. 20, an exemplary GDMS 300 is implemented in aserver system 302 with a DMD 306 as described above. The server system302 can further include additional data servers, for example, a map tileserver 310 indexed by coordinates, reference number, and/or feature; oneand/or more layer servers 312 that provide feature and layer informationalso indexed by reference to geospatial coordinates, tile referencenumber, and/or feature; and a document server 314 that can provideProduct/Service/Retail-Geographic Mapping-Company/LocalInformation-Social Networking (PSR-GM-C/L&SC-SN) information, and/orother documents and information associated with a geospatial location(again indexed by coordinate, reference number, and/or feature) in aformat not amenable to geo-visualization. As shown in FIG. 20, the dataservers 310, 312, 314 can be connected to the DMD 306 and/or to oneanother to maximize operating efficiency of the datastore 306. In someimplementations, the data servers 310, 312, 314 and the datastore 306can be located within the same server system 302, while in otherimplementations, the data servers 310, 312, 314 and the datastore 306can be distributed across a network.

The server system 302 can further comprise a workflow module 316 and anaccess control module 318 through one and/or a number of different typesof software programs (i.e., programming logic and/or computer executableinstructions) utilizing a variety of different types of measures tocontrol access to the DMD 306. The workflow module 316 and the accesscontrol module 318 can be positioned between the client computer 304 andthe DMD 306, as shown in FIG. 20, to provide a layer of access controlbetween the client device 304 and the DMD 306 and/or the data servers310, 312, 314. In other implementations, the access control module 318and workflow module 316 can be partially and/or substantiallyimplemented in other locations, for example, on the client device 304,and/or within the communications network 308.

In one implementation of the GDMS 300, as shown in FIG. 20, the accesscontrol module 318 and workflow module 316 can be separate from the DMD306 and the servers 310, 312, 314. In other implementations, the accesscontrol module 318 and 310, 312, 314. The access control module 318 andworkflow module 316, DMD 306, and data servers 310, 312, 314 are shownas separate components in FIG. 20 for simplicity of illustration, butcan all be combined into one server system 302, system datastore, and/ornetwork.

The access control module 318 and workflow module 316 can be operativelyassociated and can control access to different layers of data via theDMD 306 to facilitate control over what users and members can accessthrough the DMD 306. The access control module 318 and workflow module316 can work in concert to provide a security control function thatgrants and/or denies a user access to map tiles, information, documents,features, applications, resolution, elevation views, aerial extentviews, and/or system access based on the users and membersidentification. This also allows the DMD 306 to provide only theinformation, documents, features, and applications that are authorizedand relevant to a given user, which can provide workflow efficiencies.

By streamlining user workflow, the availability of information andapplications can be assigned by appropriate and relevant scale and/orresolution intervals. In this construct, application icons andinformation layers can appear and disappear based on the scale and/orresolution presented to the user within the system at any given point intime. This streamlines tasks by eliminating those information andapplication choices that are not relevant at a certain scale (and hencerepresent clutter) and by allowing more efficient navigation to theinformation and application choices that remain, i.e., those that arerelevant at a given scale.

The workflow module 316 is a tool, which can also lead users and membersthough data sets by progressively ‘walking’ a user through design stepsusing interactive design tools, which can traverse more than one layerof data. The workflow module 316 can be particularly helpful for noviceusers and members as they attempt to navigate through the vast amountsof data accessible via the DMD 306. In one exemplary implementation, thefeatures and functionality of the workflow module 316 can be turned onand off based upon the scale and/or resolution that a user attempts toaccess. In this embodiment, the workflow module 316 can operate bycorrelating the resolution and/or magnification of the geo-visualizationdata to conform to a user's level of authorization, thus controllingwhich users and members are able to view the most detailed and/or securedata.

The workflow module 316 can allow a system administrator to createwithin the DMD 306 different levels and/or groups of levels of access tothe data for each individual within an organization. In thisimplementation, each individual within an organization can be given anindividual profile. The individual profile can include information suchas their role and/or security clearance within an organization. Theindividual profiles can be stored on a database coupled to, and/orintegral with, the DMD 306. The profiles and/or lists of users andmembers can contain information on the level of information, and/ordata, that each user is permitted to view. This individual profile canbe accessed by the workflow module 316 and/or access control module 318when individuals attempt to access data through the DMD 306 to permitthe individual to have only a pre-determined level of access to data.When individuals attempt to access the DMD 306, their individualidentities can be linked to their profile such that their access to theDMD 306 can be referenced and/or validated before they are permitted toaccess the DMD 306.

The workflow module 316 and access control module 318 can also allowsystem administrator of the DMD 306 to create and edit different levelsof access to data for individuals and/or groups within an organization.For example, in the military, all individuals having equivalent rankand/or security clearance can have the same amount of access to the datawithin the datastore 306. Thus, the limited access is applied uniformlyto the entire group of individuals, such that all of the individuals inthe group have the same level of access to the data. This can bereferred to as ‘hierarchical access control’ because groups and/orindividuals can be grouped together for purposes of determiningserver-side access control levels.

Alternately, in an implementation of the GDMS 300 in an open and/orpublic platform, rather than a system internal to and/or controlled by aparticular organization, access to data can be controlled based merelyupon geospatial attributes, for example, the geospatial location(coordinates) of a tile request, scale of a tile request, resolution ofa tile request, payment for access, the combination of layers requested,and/or freshness and/or staleness of data requested. Another example ofa geospatial attribute can be the ability to download a geospatialdataset as opposed to merely having the ability to view ageo-visualization of such data, e.g., as a layer and/or set of features,e.g., Product, Goods & Services Geographic Mapping-Company/LocalInformation-Social Networking (PSR-GM-C/L&SC-SN) information. A furtherexample of a geospatial attribute can be the ability to save and/orbookmarks geo-visualization states defines by various combinations ofunderlying mar tiles and overlying layers and features for easilyreturning to such states as opposed to having to recreate the samefilter query to return to a prior state. In such a public platform,contributors of GM and/or GIS data accessible for geo-visualization canplace limits and/or restrictions on the availability of and/oraccessibility of the GM and/or GIS data. A public implementation of theworkflow module 316 can be used as an interface for data sources toeither upload data to the DMD 306 and/or otherwise register data withthe DMD 306 so that the DMD 306 can locate and access the data from aremote server and/or data store managed by the data source.

In order to place access restrictions on data, the data source can usethe workflow module 316 to tag and/or otherwise encode an entire datasetand/or portions of the dataset with restriction instructions associatedwith one and/or more geospatial attributes. In one implementation, theworkflow module 316 can provide tools to tag datasets, for example,using extensible mark-up language (XML) to indicate the presence andnature of a restriction tied to a particular map tile, data layer,and/or feature. In an alternate embodiment, a data source can encode adataset itself as long as the tags are in a language and format that theDMD 306 understands.

As depicted in FIG. 20, the access control module 318 can be understoodas composed of a number of functional sub-modules for implementing apublic platform with controlled access to GM and/or GIS data.

Such sub-modules can include, for example, a bounding box restrictionmodule 320, a scale determination module 322, a layer comparison module324, an authorization module 326, a temporal determination module 328,and a payment processing module 330. Each of these modules can provideseparate functionality, but often can operate in conjunction with eachother to make an access control determination as further describedbelow. It can be desirable to control access to data for a variety ofreasons, for example, to generate revenue for a particular data source.

The bounding box restriction module 320 within the access control module318 can be used to provide a gross initial screening to determinewhether a tile request by a user falls within the range of a boundingbox that is entirely off-limits for presentation without a passwordand/or certificate due to proprietary and/or security concerns. Thebounding box restriction module 320 monitors all tile requests for GMand/or GIS data to determine whether any of the requested tiles fallswithin a restricted bounding box. The bounding box can be alsounderstood as defining a collection of records in a GM and/or GISdatabase that have geospatial coordinate fields associated with the datawith values falling within the range of the bounding box. An additionalfield in the data records can indicate whether there is a restrictionplaced on the data record and the nature of the restriction.

If a requested tile is restricted, then the bounding box restrictionmodule 320 can interface with the DMD 306 and instruct that therequested GM and/or GIS data and/or the tiles thereof that fall withinthe bounding box be withheld from delivery by the DMD 306 to the client304. However, this access restriction can be overridden if the requestorcan provide a valid password and/or certificate as further discussedbelow. The functions provided by the bounding box restriction module 320can be used by the other modules within the access control module 318 inorder to identify the geographic boundaries of a map tile request and/ordata layer.

The scale determination module 322 can be used to control access to databased upon the scale and resolution of the GM and/or GIS data requested.The term “scale” is used herein in the cartographic sense, e.g., 1 cm: 1km (1 cm of the image presented on the screen corresponds to 1 km inreal terms), whereas “resolution” refers to the sharpness of the imagefile available for presentation on the screen (e.g., the number ofpixels and/or dots per inch in a raster image). A large scale, e.g., 1:1generally will correspond to an image of high resolution whereas a smallscale, e.g., 1:100,000 will generally correspond to an image of lowresolution as there is a limited ability of a presentation screen topresent a very high resolution at a small scale—there is physically noroom. In the context of access control, it can be perfectly acceptableto provide map tiles of a particular coordinate area at a scale of 1 cm:100 m at a relatively coarse resolution (e.g., 60 dpi), but it can beunacceptable to provide a larger scale (e.g., 1 cm:1 m) at a highresolution (e.g., 300 dpi), and/or at any resolution at all, e.g.,because that combination of scale and resolution has a premium value andis coded as inaccessible without payment of a fee.

The scale determination module 322 monitors requests for GM and/or GISdata having a scale and/or resolution attribute. If there is a scaleand/or resolution change requested, the scale determination module 322can interface with the DMD 306 and request that the GM and/or GIS databe held for screening by the scale determination module 322 to determinewhether the requested GM and/or GIS data has a scale and/or resolutionrestriction, and/or a combination thereof, and the nature of therestriction.

The layer comparison module 324 can be used to control access to databased upon the types and combinations of data layers of the GM and/orGIS data requested for overlay on a map. For example, it can beperfectly acceptable to provide a geo-visualization of a data layershowing locations of Educational related Products, Goods, and/orServices-Geographic Mapping-Company/Local Information-Social Networking(PSR-GM-C/L&SC-SN) information. In a further implementation, the layercomparison module 324 can be configured to save identifying informationof a user making a layer combination request associated with interactionrelating to one and/or more Educational related Products, Goods, and/orServices-Geographic Mapping-Company/Local Information-Social Networking(PSR-GM-C/L&SC-SN) information.

In each of the examples of geospatial attribute-driven access controlpresented above, it is noted that request denials of map tiles and/ordata layers can be overridden by the provision of a valid certificateand/or password. The authorization module 326 provides an opportunityfor requestors to enter a password, certificate, and/or otheridentification sufficient to overcome a denial of presentation of arequested map region, data layer, and/or feature. In such a case, if arequester enters the appropriate password and/or presents an appropriatecertificate, the authorization module 326 can direct the DMD 306 toaccess and present the requested GM and/or GIS data.

Another exemplary function of the access control module 318 can beembodied in the temporal determination module 328 that allows and/ordenies access to map tiles and/or layers based upon the age of theinformation comprising the particular dataset, e.g. Educational relatedProducts, Goods, and/or Services-Geographic Mapping-Company/LocalInformation-Social Networking (EPGS-GM-C/L&SN) information. In anexample, data that is significantly older can develop additional valueagain for use in temporal studies to identify trends. In such a case,the data can again only be accessible upon payment of a fee for theservice. The temporal determination module 328 manages the temporalworth of GM and/or GIS data, for example, by examining time stampsassociated with particular GM and/or GIS datasets and comparing thetimestamps to any tags that can be encoded with the data indicating thatthe GM and/or GIS dataset is subject to a fee for service withinparticular ranges of age.

A further exemplary function of the access control module 318 can be theacceptance of payment for access to GM and/or GIS datasets through thepayment processing module 330. Upon receipt of a request for a GM and/orGIS dataset, the payment processing module 330 can query the relevantdatastore to determine whether the dataset is subject to a fee forservice, for example membership, registration, and/or subscription forwebsite access for providing coupons and/or discounts and associatedcompany, local information, including socially conscious information,such as Product, Goods & Services-Geographic Mapping-Company/LocalInformation-Social Networking (PSR-GM-C/L&SC-SN) information. If so, thepayment processing module 330 can instruct the DMD 306 to withholddelivery of a dataset to a requestor until payment is made. In analternate implementation, the payment processing module 330 can maintaina schedule of fees charged by each contributor for particular datasetsand compare incoming dataset requests with the schedule to determinewhether a fee is required to access the data and instruct the DMD 306accordingly. In another implementation, upon payment of a fee for accessto a restricted dataset, the payment processing module 330 can issue apassword and/or certification to the requester who would then presentthe password/certificate to the authorization module 326 to seek accessto the dataset through that component. The payment processing module 330can actually accept and process access payments from requesters, and/orit can interface with a third party payment processing service (e.g.,PayPal®) to actually process fund transfers.

FIG. 21 depicts an exemplary set of access control operations 400 thatcan be performed according to one implementation of an access controlmodule within a GDMS. Initially the access control module receives atile request in a receiving operation 402 associated with one and/ormore Educational related Products, Goods, and/or Services-GeographicMapping-Company/Local Information-Social Networking (PSR-GM-C/L&SC-SN)information. It should be understood that any request from a clientdevice for GM and/or GIS data, e.g., Educational related Products,Goods, and/or Services-Geographic Mapping-Company/LocalInformation-Social Networking (PSR-GM-C/L&SC-SN) information be it aparticular map and/or a dataset for a layer and/or a feature and/or evena document, will necessarily be associated with one and/or more maptiles. In order to present a geo-visualization interface, all of thedata can have a reference to particular geospatial coordinates, whichcan optionally broken down in units of map tiles.

Once a tile request is received, the access control module can nextidentify a bounding box containing all the tiles in the tile request inidentification operation 404. Creation of a bounding box allows theaccess control module to easily determine whether access is restrictedto presentation of any of the map tiles requested. In a comparisonoperation 406, the access control module can simply compare whether anyof the entire region of the bounding box intersects with a geospatialattribute that can be subject to a presentation restriction. Recall thatthere can be any number of geospatial attributes that can be designatedas having restriction requirements, for example, the geospatial location(coordinates) of a tile request itself, the scale of the tile request,resolution of a tile request, an angle of view (e.g., plan, aerial,street level, etc.), payment for access, the combination of layersrequested, and/or the freshness and/or staleness of data requested. Ifthere are no geospatial attribute restrictions associated with any ofthe tiles in the bounding box, the process 400 can approve all of thetiles and instruct the DMD to send the particular map tiles, layerdataset, features, and/or other information in sending operation 408.

If the access control module recognizes that there is a restrictionassociated with one and/or more of the tiles in the bounding box, theaccess control module can next determine what kind of geospatialattribute is implicated in the bounding box restriction in checkingoperation 410. The access control module can then invoke one and/or moreof the sub-modules described above for further processing assistance.The appropriate sub-module(s) can first determine whether an actualrestriction must be imposed on the data request pursuant to thegeospatial attribute in determination operation 412. This operationdetermines whether the requested a value of the geospatial datasetand/or feature actually conflicts with the restriction set by the datacontributor. For example, the tile request at a resolution valuerestricted by the data contributor without additional authorizationand/or payment and the tile would be considered actually restricted.Alternatively, if the tile request is at a resolution value within theallowable bounds set by the contributor, then the attribute of therequest would not be considered restricted and the tiles and/orassociated data would be approved for presentation in sending operation408.

If the geospatial attribute associated with the tile request is found tobe “set high,” then the access control module will request that someform of authentication be presented by the requester before the data arereleased for presentation in requesting operation 414. Responses to therequesting operation are then examined in determination operation 416 todetermine what information should be provided relating to Educationalrelated Products, Goods, and/or Services-GeographicMapping-Company/Local Information-Social Networking (PSR-GM-C/L&SC-SN)information. Similarly, if the GM and/or GIS dataset is a premiumservice requiring additional payment, upon payment by the requester theaccess control module can approve the request and the tile are sent insending operation 408. If a requester cannot provide the appropriatepassword and/or certification, and/or chooses not to pay for a premiumservice, then the access controller will deny the tile request indenying operation 418. The GDMS can either inform the requester that therequest has been denied and/or alternatively return a GM and/or GIS dataset as responsive as possible to the request, but without providing therestricted information.

Some implementations described herein can be implemented as logicalsteps in one and/or more computer systems. The logical operations of thedescribed systems, apparatus, and methods are implemented (1) as asequence of processor-implemented steps executing in one and/or morecomputer systems and (2) as interconnected machine modules within oneand/or more computer systems. The implementation is a matter of choice,dependent on the performance requirements of the computer systemimplementing the described system, apparatus, and method. Accordingly,the logical operations making up the implementations of the systems,apparatus, and methods described herein are referred to variously asoperations, steps, objects, and/or modules.

In some implementations, articles of manufacture are provided ascomputer program products that cause the instantiation of operations ona computer system to implement the invention. One implementation of acomputer program product provides a computer program storage mediumreadable by a computer system and encoding a computer program. Anotherimplementation of a computer program product can be provided in acomputer data signal embodied in a carrier wave by a computing systemand encoding the computer program.

An exemplary computer system 500 for implementing the file origindetermination processes above is depicted in FIG. 22. The computersystem 500 can be a computer server with internal processing and memorycomponents as well as interface components for connection with externalinput, output, storage, network, and other types of peripheral devices.Internal components of the computer system in FIG. 22 are shown withinthe dashed line and external components are shown outside of the dashedline. Components that can be internal and/or external are shownstraddling the dashed line. Alternatively to a server, the computersystem 500 can be in the form of any of a personal computer (PC), anotebook and/or portable computer, a tablet PC, a handheld media player(e.g., an MP3 player), a smart phone device, a video gaming device, aset top box, a workstation, a mainframe computer, a distributedcomputer, an Internet appliance, and/or other computer devices, and/orcombinations thereof.

The computer system 500 includes a processor 502 and a system memory 506connected by a system bus 504 that also operatively couples varioussystem components. There can be one and/or more processors 502, e.g., asingle central processing unit (CPU), and/or a plurality of processingunits, commonly referred to as a parallel processing environment. Thesystem bus 504 can be any of several types of bus structures including amemory bus and/or memory controller, a peripheral bus, aswitched-fabric, point-to-point connection, and a local bus using any ofa variety of bus architectures. The system memory 506 includes read onlymemory (ROM) 508 and random access memory (RAM) 510. A basicinput/output system (BIOS) 512, containing the basic routines that helpto transfer information between elements within the computer system 500,such as during start-up, is stored in ROM 508. A cache 514 can be setaside in RAM 510 to provide a high speed memory store for frequentlyaccessed data.

A hard disk drive interface 516 can be connected with the system bus 504to provide read and write access to a data storage device, e.g., a harddisk drive 518, for nonvolatile storage of applications, files, anddata. A number of program modules and other data can be stored on thehard disk 518, including an operating system 520, one and/or moreapplication programs 522, other program modules 524, and data files 526.In an exemplary implementation, the hard disk drive 518 can furtherstore access control module 564 for restricting access to map and datafiles and the decision management datastore 566 for housing and managingGM and/or GIS databases according to the exemplary processes describedherein above. Note that the hard disk drive 518 can be either aninternal component and/or an external component of the computer system500 as indicated by the hard disk drive 518 straddling the dashed linein FIG. 25. In some configurations, there can be both an internal and anexternal hard disk drive 518.

The computer system 500 can further include a magnetic disk drive 530for reading from and/or writing to a removable magnetic disk 532, tape,and/or other magnetic media. The magnetic disk drive 530 can beconnected with the system bus 504 via a magnetic drive interface 528 toprovide read and write access to the magnetic disk drive 530 initiatedby other components and/or applications within the computer system 500.The magnetic disk drive 530 and the associated computer-readable mediacan be used to provide nonvolatile storage of computer-readableinstructions, data structures, program modules, and other data for thecomputer system 500.

The computer system 500 can additionally include an optical disk drive536 for reading from and/or writing to a removable optical disk 538 suchas a CD ROM and/or other optical media. The optical disk drive 536 canbe connected with the system bus 504 via an optical drive interface 534to provide read and write access to the optical disk drive 536 initiatedby other components and/or applications within the computer system 500.The optical disk drive 530 and the associated computer-readable opticalmedia can be used to provide nonvolatile storage of computer-readableinstructions, data structures, program modules, and other data for thecomputer system 500.

A display device 542, e.g., a monitor, a television, and/or a projector,and/or other type of presentation device can also be connected to thesystem bus 504 via an interface, such as a video adapter 540 and/orvideo card. Similarly, audio devices, for example, external speakersand/or a microphone (not shown), can be connected to the system bus 504through an audio card and/or other audio interface (not shown).

In addition to the monitor 542, the computer system 500 can includeother peripheral input and output devices, which are often connected tothe processor 502 and memory 506 through the serial port interface 544that is coupled to the system bus 506. Input and output devices can alsoand/or alternately be connected with the system bus 504 by otherinterfaces, for example, a universal serial bus (USB), a parallel port,and/or a game port. A user can enter commands and information into thecomputer system 500 through various input devices including, forexample, a keyboard 546 and pointing device 548, for example, a mouse.Other input devices (not shown) can include, for example, a microphone,a joystick, a game pad, a tablet, a touch screen device, a satellitedish, a scanner, a facsimile machine, and a digital camera, and adigital video camera. Other output devices can include, for example, aprinter 550, a plotter, a photocopier, a photo printer, a facsimilemachine, and a press (the latter not shown). In some implementations,several of these input and output devices can be combined into a singledevice, for example, a printer/scanner/fax/photocopier. It should alsobe appreciated that other types of computer-readable media andassociated drives for storing data, for example, magnetic cassettesand/or flash memory drives, can be accessed by the computer system 500via the serial port interface 544 (e.g., USB) and/or similar portinterface.

The computer system 500 can operate in a networked environment usinglogical connections through a network interface 552 coupled with thesystem bus 504 to communicate with one and/or more remote devices. Thelogical connections depicted in FIG. 22 include a local-area network(LAN) 554 and a wide-area network (WAN) 560. Such networkingenvironments are commonplace in home networks, office networks,enterprise-wide computer networks, and intranets. These logicalconnections can be achieved by a communication device coupled to and/orintegral with the computer system 500. As depicted in FIG. 22, the LAN554 can use a router 556 and/or hub, either wired and/or wireless,internal and/or external, to connect with remote devices, e.g., a remotecomputer 558, similarly connected on the LAN 554. The remote computer558 can be a PC client, a server, a peer device, and/or other commonnetwork node, and typically includes many and/or all of the elementsdescribed above relative to the computer system 500.

To connect with a WAN 560, the computer system 500 typically includes amodem 562 for establishing communications over the WAN 560. Typicallythe WAN 560 can be the Internet. However, in some instances the WAN 560can be a large private network spread among multiple locations. Themodem 562 can be a telephone modem, a high speed modem (e.g., a digitalsubscriber line (DSL) modem), a cable modem, and/or similar type ofcommunications device. The modem 562, which can be internal and/orexternal, is connected to the system bus 518 via the network interface552. In alternate embodiments the modem 562 can be connected via theserial port interface 544. It should be appreciated that the networkconnections shown are exemplary and other means of and communicationsdevices for establishing a communications link between the computersystem and other devices and/or networks can be used. Connection of thecomputer system 500 with a WAN 560 allows the decision managementdatastore 566 the ability to access remote GM and/or GIS datastores toprovide for a distributed GM and/or GIS platform.

All directional references (e.g., proximal, distal, upper, lower,upward, downward, left, right, lateral, front, back, top, bottom, above,below, vertical, horizontal, clockwise, and counterclockwise) are onlyused for identification purposes to aid the readers understanding of thepresent invention, and do not create limitations, particularly as to theposition, orientation, and/or use of the invention. Connectionreferences (e.g., attached, coupled, connected, and joined) are to beconstrued broadly and can include intermediate members between acollection of elements and relative movement between elements unlessotherwise indicated. As such, connection references do not necessarilyinfer that two elements are directly connected and in fixed relation toeach other. The exemplary drawings are for purposes of illustration onlyand the dimensions, positions, order and relative sizes reflected in thedrawings attached hereto can vary.

As presented in FIG. 23, The present invention provides in one aspect adelivery system for a geospatial website for a multidimensionalrepresentation of information and/or scalable versions of web and mobiledevice content for an infrastructure and global platform that providesusers and members and businesses of all types and sizes with access tobroad markets for the delivery of ad links, promotions, online coupons,mobile services, Educational related Products, Goods, and/or Services orservices from merchants and sellers from around the world for such itemsas: e-commerce, media and entertainment, sports, personal & financialnetwork, travel & hospitality services, real estate, educationalservices, ancillary services, advertisers, service providers, socialnetworking, online dating, gaming, retail stores, virtual communitiesand virtual goods end users online activity, location, onlinecommunications, search inquiries, social networking, social networkingcommunities, social plugins, ad links, promotions, social applications,entertainment shopping, bidding, bidding behavior, bidding results,advertisements, purchasing, behavior, buying patterns and other criteriafor collection and analysis used to provide customized promotionalwebsite displays of ad links, promotions, online coupons, mobileservices, Educational related Products, Goods, and/or Services orservices from merchants and sellers from around the world, serviceproviders and related company and local information for selectedworldwide locations using three-dimensional and scalable geospatialmapping. (collectively referred to as “Educational related Products,Goods, and/or Services” as any product or service or subgroup thereof)through combined Products, Goods and Service with GeospatialMapping/Company-Local Information/Social Networking/Communities(“EPGS-GM-CL/I-SN”) on a three dimensional geospatial platform usinggeospatial mapping technology.

FIG. 24 presents a flow chart showing a typical transaction for thepurchase a Social Earth online coupons, mobile services, Products, Goodsand Service, entertainment shopping, penny auctions or online auctions,advertisements and affiliate advertising or services from merchants andsellers from around the world that provides a portion of the saleproceeds will be allocated to microloans or microcredit, humanitarianaid and support other worldly causes through charitable donations. “ViewSocial Earth ad links, promotions, online coupons, mobile services,Educational related Products, Goods, and/or Services or services frommerchants and sellers from around the world, retail stores, virtualcommunities and virtual goods and information about microloans ormicrocredit, humanitarian aid and support other worldly causes throughcharitable donations from around the world by geo-target location oranywhere in the world on the present inventions unique Live View of theplanet.”

Techniques, methods, apparatus, and a system for presenting sponsoredcontent (e.g., ad links, promotions and advertising) are described. Insome implementations, the techniques, methods, apparatus and system canbe used to facilitate online advertising, being advertising occurringover a network including one or more local area networks (LANs) or awide area network (WAN), for example, the Internet. Any reference hereinto “online promotion” is meant to include any such advertising occurringover a network and is not limited to advertising over the Internet.Further, the techniques and system described can be used to distributeother forms of sponsored content over other distribution media (e.g.,not online), including those over broadcast, wireless, radio or otherdistribution networks. By way of example, the techniques and system arediscussed in an online advertising context, but other contexts arepossible. For example other forms of content can be delivered other thanadvertisements.

FIG. 25 is a block diagram of an example online advertising system 100.In some implementations, one or more advertisers 104 can directly, orindirectly, enter, maintain, and track advertisement (“ad”) informationin an ad management system 108. The ads can be stored in a repository114 coupled to the system 108 (e.g., a MySQL® database). The ads may bein the form of graphical ads, such as banner ads, text only ads, imageads, audio ads, video ads, ads combining one of more of any of suchcomponents, etc. The ads may also include embedded information, such asembedded media, links, meta-information, and/or machine executableinstructions. One or more publishers 106 may submit requests for ads orsocial/geo/promo link promotional data sets to the system 108. Thesystem 108 responds by sending ads, social/geo/promo link promotionaldata sets, or information that will allow for the retrieval of ads orsocial/geo/promo link promotional data sets to the requesting publisher106 for placement/serving on one or more of the publishers webproperties (e.g., websites and other network-distributed content). Theads or social/geo/promo link promotional data sets can be placed with orembedded in the publishers content (e.g., videos, articles, searchresults), which can be stored in a repository 110 at the publisher 106,and/or placed with content received from other sources (e.g., otherpublishers, advertisers).

In some implementations, publishers properties available in this systemmay also include both Internet-distributed and broadcast distributedcontent such as, but not limited to, television spots, radio spots,print advertising, billboard advertising (electronic or printed),on-vehicle advertising, and the like.

Other entities, such as users 102 and advertisers 104, can provide usageinformation to the system 108, such as, for example, whether or not aconversion or click-through related to an ad has occurred. In someimplementations, conversion data can be stored in a repository 112,where it can be used by the system 108 to improve ad targetingperformance. The usage information provided to the system 108 caninclude measured or observed user behavior related to ads that have beenserved. In some implementations, the system 108 performs financialtransactions, such as crediting the publishers 106 and charging theadvertisers 104 based on the usage information.

A computer network, such as a local area network (LAN), wide areanetwork (WAN), the Internet, wireless network or a combination thereof,can connect the advertisers 104, the system 108, the publishers 106, andthe users 102.

One example of a publisher 106 is a general content server that receivesrequests for content (e.g., articles, electronic mail messages,discussion threads, music, video, graphics, networked games, searchresults, web page listings, information feeds, dynamic web page content,etc.), and retrieves the requested content in response to the request.The content server may submit a request (either directly or indirectly)for ads or social/geo/promo link promotional data sets to an ad serverin the system 108. The ad request may include a number of ads desired.The social/geo/promo link promotional data set request may include anumber of social/geo/promo link promotional data sets desired and thenumber of social/geo/promo links per social/geo/promo link promotionaldata set. The ad or social/geo/promo link promotional data set requestmay also include content request information. This information caninclude the content itself (e.g., page or other content document), acategory or keyword corresponding to the content or the content request(e.g., arts, business, computers, arts-movies, arts-music, etc.), partor all of the content request, content age, content type (e.g., text,graphics, video, audio, mixed media, etc.), geo-location information,demographic information related to the content, keyword, web property,etc., and the like.

In some implementations, the content server (or a browser renderingcontent provided by the content server) can combine the requestedcontent with one or more of the ads or social/geo/promo link promotionaldata sets provided by the system 108. The combination can happen priorto delivery of the content to the user or contemporaneously where theadvertising server can serve the ads or social/geo/promo linkpromotional data sets directly to an end user. The combined content andads or social/geo/promo link promotional data sets can be delivered tothe user 102 that requested the content for presentation in a viewer(e.g., a browser or other content display system). The content servercan transmit information about the ads or social/geo/promo linkpromotional data sets back to the ad server, including informationdescribing how, when, and/or where the ads or social/geo/promo linkpromotional data sets are to be rendered (e.g., in HTML or JavaScript™).The content page 120 can be rendered in the users viewer with one ormore ads 122. When the user 102 clicks on a displayed ad 122 of anadvertiser, the user 102 can be redirected to a landing page 118 of theadvertisers web site.

In another example, the publisher 106 is a search service. A searchservice can receive queries for search results. In response, the searchservice can retrieve relevant search results from an index of content(e.g., from an index of web pages). An exemplary search service isdescribed in the article S. Brin and L. Page, “The Anatomy of aLarge-Scale Hypertextual Search Engine,” Seventh International WorldWide Web Conference, Brisbane, Australia and in U.S. Pat. No. 6,285,999,both of which are incorporated herein by reference each in theirentirety. Search results can include, for example, lists of web pagetitles, snippets of text extracted from those web pages, and hypertextlinks to those web pages, and may be grouped into a predetermined numberof search results (e.g., ten).

The search service can submit a request for ads or social/geo/promo linkpromotional data sets to the system 108. The request may include anumber of ads or social/geo/promo link promotional data sets desired. Asocial/geo/promo link promotional data set request may include a numberof social/geo/promo link promotional data sets desired and the number ofsocial/geo/promo links per social/geo/promo link promotional data set.The number of ads or number of social/geo/promo link promotional datasets may depend on the search results, the amount of screen or pagespace occupied by the search results or other content to be displayedcontemporaneously with the sponsored content, the size and shape of theads, etc. In some implementations, the number of desired ads can be fromone to ten, or from three to five. In some implementations, the numberof desired social/geo/promo link promotional data sets can be greaterthan one (e.g., three). The request for ads or social/geo/promo linkpromotional data sets may also include a query (as entered or parsed),information based on the query (such as geo-location information,whether the query came from an affiliate and an identifier of such anaffiliate), and/or information associated with, or based on, the searchresults. Such information may include, for example, identifiers relatedto the search results (e.g., document identifiers or “docIDs”), scoresrelated to the search results (e.g., information retrieval (“IR”)scores), snippets of text extracted from identified documents (e.g., webpages), full text of identified documents, feature vectors of identifieddocuments, etc. Other information can be included in the requestincluding information related to the content that is to be displayedcontemporaneously with the sponsored content. In some implementations,IR scores can be computed from, for example, dot products of featurevectors corresponding to a query and a document, page rank scores,and/or combinations of IR scores and page rank scores, etc.

A search service can combine the search results with one or more of theads or social/geo/promo link promotional data sets provided by thesystem 108. This combined information can then be forwarded/delivered tothe user 102 that requested the content. The search results can bemaintained as distinct from the ads or social/geo/promo link promotionaldata sets, so as not to confuse the user between paid advertisements andpresumably neutral search results. The search service can transmitinformation about the ad or social/geo/promo link promotional data setand when, where, and/or how the ad or social/geo/promo link promotionaldata set was to be rendered back to the system 104.

As can be appreciated from the foregoing, the advertising managementsystem 108 can serve publishers 106, such as content servers and searchservices. The system 108 permits serving of ads targeted to content(e.g., documents, web pages, web blogs, etc.) served by content servers.For example, a network or inter-network may include an ad server servingtargeted ads in response to requests from a search service with ad spotsfor sale. Suppose that the inter-network is the World Wide Web. Thesearch service can be configured to crawl much or all of the content.Some of this content will include ad spots (also referred to as“inventory”) available. In this example, one or more content servers mayinclude one or more documents. Documents may include web pages, email,content, embedded information (e.g., embedded media), meta-informationand machine executable instructions, and ad spots available. The adsinserted into ad spots in a document can vary each time the document isserved or, alternatively, can have a static association with a givendocument. In one implementation, for the system 104 to provideadvertisements to the publisher that are targeted to the user 108 uponwhose browser the advertisements will be displayed, it is advantageousfor user profile information about the user 108 to be provided to thesystem 104. In some implementations, user profile information and othertypes of data can be collected by the system 108 and stored in arepository 116. The stored data may include, for example, geographiclocations of users, ad context information, etc. The system can thenselect the advertisements to provide for viewing by the user 108 basedat least in part on the user profile information.

FIG. 26A illustrates an example 200 of a related social/geo/promo linkpromotional data set 202 provided with web page content. In example 200,the content of the web page is directed to the latest in luggagetechnology. The content of the web page is displayed with related adsand the related social/geo/promo link promotional data set 202.

The related social/geo/promo link promotional data set 202 includes alist of selectable topics or categories 204 related to the content ofthe web page. The related social/geo/promo link promotional data set 202can present multiple (e.g., four) social/geo/promo links. In someimplementations, the related social/geo/promo link promotional data set202 also includes a label (e.g., “Ads by Google”) identifying the linkunit 202 as advertisement.

Example 200 includes one related social/geo/promo link promotional dataset 202 for the web page. The related social/geo/promo link promotionaldata set includes the following selectable categories 204: luggage,baggage, suitcase, and valise. These categories 204 are related to thecontent of the web page. However, the categories 204 in the list arevery similar to one another. In particular, these categories 204 aresynonyms of each other. A user presented with the luggage technology webpage content and the related social/geo/promo link promotional data set202 is likely to find little variety in the listed categories 204. Ifthe user decides to select any category, the user is likely to selectthe first category, (e.g., luggage) and ignore the other threecategories because of their high correlation to the first category.

Despite the correlation in the categories 204, the list of ads presentedwhen one category is selected may differ from the list of ads presentedwhen another category is selected. The ads associated with the similarcategories that are lower on the related social/geo/promo linkpromotional data set list are at a disadvantage relative to the adsassociated with the first category in the list.

FIG. 26B illustrates an example 250 of multiple related social/geo/promolink promotional data sets 252, 262 provided with web page content. Aswith example 200 of FIG. 2A, the content of the web page is directed tothe latest in luggage technology.

Example 250 includes two related social/geo/promo link promotional datasets 252, 262 for the web page. The related social/geo/promo linkpromotional data set 252 includes the following selectable categories254: luggage, vacation getaways, travel agencies, and valise. Therelated social/geo/promo link promotional data set 262 includes thefollowing selectable categories 264: vacation packages, luggage locks,baggage, and tour packages. The categories 254, 264 are related to thecontent of the web page. However, the categories are scattered acrossthe two related social/geo/promo link promotional data sets 252, 262without regard to the correlation or diversity of the categories. Forexample, the luggage category of related social/geo/promo linkpromotional data set 252 is a synonym of the baggage category of relatedsocial/geo/promo link promotional data set 262. The vacation getawayscategory of related social/geo/promo link promotional data set 252 is asynonym of the vacation packages category of related social/geo/promolink promotional data set 262. Additionally, the categories within eachlink unit are diverse. For example, vacation packages and luggage locksare disparate categories in the related social/geo/promo linkpromotional data set 262. If the categories are incoherently assembledin multiple related social/geo/promo link promotional data sets withoutconsidering correlation or diversity, a user may have difficulty findinga particular category of interest.

A technique, method, apparatus, and system are described to providerelated social/geo/promo link promotional data sets with correlatedbroad or alternative categories to be displayed with web page contentfor view by a user. The determination whether to cluster or anti-clustercan be based on, for example, the number of related social/geo/promolink promotional data sets to be displayed with web page content.Clustering and alternative category clustering can be relative to acategory classification of the related social/geo/promo link categories.Categories can represent industries or broad topics at a high level of ataxonomy system, which includes concepts, themes, or characteristics.Some examples of categories are travel, entertainment, office supplies,and education. Related social/geo/promo link categories can be orderedin this hierarchy of categories. In other words, relatedsocial/geo/promo link categories can be classified according to one ormore categories. For example, “Hawaiian travel” can be categorized underboth a Hawaii category and a travel category. The relatedsocial/geo/promo link category “luggage” can fall into a category forcontainers for travel.

FIG. 27 illustrates an example implementation 300 of a relatedsocial/geo/promo link promotional data set 302 with correlated broadcategories 304 provided with web page content. As with the example 200of FIG. 2A, the content of the web page is directed to the latest inluggage technology. However, in the example implementation 300, thelisted categories 304 are not limited to the containers for travelcategory, and the listed categories 304 are not synonyms of each other.Instead, the related social/geo/promo link promotional data set 302provides varied categories 304 (e.g., luggage, purses, briefcases, andbackpacks) which are related to the content of the web page. The variedcategories 304 fall into a number of categories including, for example,accessories, office supplies, and education supplies. The categories 304are clustered broad categories to provide a diversity of promotionaltopics for the user. The technique of alternative category clustering isdescribed in more detail below. User experience can be improved bypresenting the varied categories 304 within the single relatedsocial/geo/promo link promotional data set 302, allowing the user tobetter distinguish between available promotional topics.

FIG. 27B illustrates an example implementation 350 of multiple relatedsocial/geo/promo link promotional data sets 352, 362 with clusteredcategories 354, 364 provided with web page content. The link unit 352includes the following selectable categories 354: luggage, overnightbag, cosmetic case, and toiletry bag. The link unit 362 includes thefollowing selectable categories 364: vacation packages, cruises, cyclingtours, and student hostel trips. The categories 354, 364 are related tothe content of the web page and are assembled such that the categoriesin one related social/geo/promo link promotional data set are chosenfrom the same, similar, categories, while the categories in the otherrelated social/geo/promo link promotional data set are chosen from thesame or similar alternative categories. That is, the categories 354 ofrelated social/geo/promo link promotional data set 352 are allcontainers for travel while the categories 364 of relatedsocial/geo/promo link promotional data set 362 are all types of travel.Assembling related social/geo/promo link categories in multiple relatedsocial/geo/promo link promotional data sets by similar or diversecategories brings coherency to the presentation of the relatedsocial/geo/promo link promotional data sets, allowing a user to betterdistinguish between available promotional topics and to more easily finda particular category of interest.

FIG. 28 is a block diagram of an example implementation 400 of anadvertising management system 108 of FIG. 25 that provides relatedsocial/geo/promo link promotional data sets with correlated broad andalternative categories. The advertising management system 108 includes asocial/geo/promo link server 402, a social/geo/promo link repository404, and a learning module 406. In some implementations, the system 108also includes a concept extraction engine 408. In some implementations,the ad server in system 108 also serves related social/geo/promo links.

The social/geo/promo link server 402 receives requests for relatedsocial/geo/promo link promotional data sets. In some implementations,the social/geo/promo link server 402 receives related social/geo/promolink promotional data set requests from one or more content servers. Asocial/geo/promo link promotional data set request can accompany an adrequest, where both the ad and social/geo/promo link promotional dataset are to be displayed with the same content. In some implementations,a content server sends a combined request for both ads andsocial/geo/promo link promotional data sets. The relatedsocial/geo/promo link promotional data set request may include a number(e.g., one, two, or three) of related social/geo/promo link promotionaldata sets desired and the number (e.g., four or five) of relatedsocial/geo/promo link promotional data set categories for each relatedsocial/geo/promo link promotional data set. The related social/geo/promolink promotional data set request may also include content requestinformation. For example, the information can include the content itselfor one or more categories or keywords corresponding to the content orthe content request.

The social/geo/promo link server 402 receives candidate relatedsocial/geo/promo links from a social/geo/promo link repository 404. Insome implementations, the candidate related social/geo/promo links aredetermined based on keywords corresponding to the requested content withwhich the related social/geo/promo link promotional data set is to bedisplayed. Other matching techniques can be used.

The social/geo/promo link server 402 identifies categories for thecandidate related social/geo/promo links and forwards the categories toa learning module 406. In some implementations, the categories are thesame as the candidate related social/geo/promo links. In someimplementations, the candidate related social/geo/promo links are asubset of the categories that can be selected for social/geo/promo linkpromotional data sets displayed with requested content.

In some implementations, the related social/geo/promo link promotionaldata set request can include an identifier (e.g., the Uniform ResourceLocator (URL)) of the webpage with the requested content with which therelated social/geo/promo link promotional data set is to be displayed.Using the identifier, the web page can be crawled to determine one ormore concepts evoked by the content of the web page. An optional conceptextraction engine 408 can extract concepts from the web page content.The web page concepts can be forwarded to the learning module 406. Someexamples of concept extraction engines are described in U.S. Pat. No.7,231,393 and U.S. 2004/0068697, each of which is incorporated byreference herein in its entirety. The learning module 406 receivesrelated social/geo/promo link categories from the social/geo/promo linkserver 402. The learning module 406 generates or retrieves one or morecategory identifiers associated with each related social/geo/promo linkcategory. As described above, each related social/geo/promo linkcategory can be classified under one or more categories. In someimplementations, the category identifiers are predetermined. Forexample, the category identifiers for the related social/geo/promo linkcategories can be determined before a related social/geo/promo linkpromotional data set request is served. In some implementations, thecategory identifiers are pre-computed for the keywords for ads in thesocial/geo/promo link repository 404.

In some implementations, the learning module 406 also receives web pageconcepts from the concept extraction engine 408. Web page concepts canalso be classified under one or more categories. Category identifiersfor the web page concepts can be determined when a relatedsocial/geo/promo link promotional data set request is received.

The learning module 406 computes one or more correlation criteria foreach related social/geo/promo link category. A correlation measureprovides a measure of how “close” or “distant” in correlation twocategory identifiers are, where the pair of category identifierscorresponds to two related social/geo/promo link categories. If categoryidentifiers are determined for the web page concepts, correlationcriteria can also be computed between a category identifier associatedwith a related social/geo/promo link category and a category identifierassociated with one of the web page concepts.

In some implementations, the correlation measure can be computed usingstatistics accumulated over a large set of documents (e.g., web pages).For example, the number of instances of a document evoking two categoryconcepts can be determined. The number of instances can be used as aheuristic to measure the correlation between the two categories. Thatis, the larger the number of instances, the more likely the twocategories are similar. Techniques for associating documents andco-occurring category concepts are described in U.S. Patent PublicationNo. 2006/0242013 A1, filed Oct. 26, 2006, for “Suggesting TargetingInformation for Ads, Such as Websites and/or Categories of Websites forExample,” which published patent application is incorporated byreference herein in its entirety. The correlation measure is furtherdiscussed below.

The social/geo/promo link server 402 receives from the learning module406 one or more correlation criteria for each related social/geo/promolink category. In some implementations, the social/geo/promo link server402 also receives the category identifiers from the learning module 406.The social/geo/promo link server 402 generates the same, similar, broador alternative, social/geo/promo link categories based on thecorrelation criteria of the candidate social/geo/promo link categories.The same, similar, broad or alternative, social/geo/promo linkcategories are organized into one or more related social/geo/promo linkpromotional data sets which can be provided by the system 108 to thecontent server to be combined with the requested content.

In some implementations, the social/geo/promo link server 402 providesthe functionality of the learning module 406, including generation orretrieval of the category identifiers and the correlation criteria. Inthese implementations, the learning module 406 is not part of system108.

FIG. 29 is a block diagram of an example implementation 500 of thesocial/geo/promo link server 402 of FIG. 4. The social/geo/promo linkserver 402 includes a categorizer 502 and a cluster/anti-cluster module504.

The social/geo/promo link server 402 receives requests for relatedsocial/geo/promo link promotional data sets. The relatedsocial/geo/promo link promotional data set request may include a numberof related social/geo/promo link promotional data sets desired and thenumber of related social/geo/promo link categories per relatedsocial/geo/promo link promotional data set. The number of relatedsocial/geo/promo link promotional data sets desired can be used todetermine whether related social/geo/promo link categories should besame, similar, broad or alternative, clusters or groupings.

The social/geo/promo link server 402 receives candidate relatedsocial/geo/promo links. In some implementations, the candidate relatedsocial/geo/promo links are ordered by relevance to the requestedcontent. The social/geo/promo link server 402 can receive the orderedlist of candidate social/geo/promo links. Alternatively, thesocial/geo/promo link server 402 can receive an unordered list, and thesocial/geo/promo link server 402 can order the candidatesocial/geo/promo links by relevance to the requested content using arelevance measure.

The categorizer 502 of the social/geo/promo link server 402 identifiescategories for the candidate related social/geo/promo links. In someimplementations, the categories are the same as the relatedsocial/geo/promo links, and the categorizer 502 is not included in thesocial/geo/promo link server 402.

The social/geo/promo link server 402 receives one or more correlationcriteria for each category. In some implementations, thesocial/geo/promo link server 402 also receives the one or more categoryidentifiers associated with each category. In some implementations,category identifiers are also received for the web page concepts and areused to cluster or anti-cluster social/geo/promo link categories.

The candidate social/geo/promo links and the correlation criteria areprovided as inputs to the cluster/anti-cluster module 504. If therequest is for a single related social/geo/promo link promotional dataset, the classification of the categories by characteristics (alsocalled categories) is used to improve the diversity of categoriescoverage (alternative category clustering) of the relatedsocial/geo/promo link categories displayed in the single relatedsocial/geo/promo link promotional data set. If the request is formultiple related social/geo/promo link promotional data sets, theclassification of the related social/geo/promo link categories bycategories is used to cluster related social/geo/promo link categoriesin one related social/geo/promo link promotional data set in the samecategory or similar categories while those in other relatedsocial/geo/promo link promotional data sets are from differentcategories.

FIG. 30 is a flow diagram of an example process 600 for providing arelated social/geo/promo link promotional data set with anti-clusteredcategories. The process 600 begins by selecting a first social/geo/promolink category for a first position of the social/geo/promo linkpromotional data set, where the first social/geo/promo link category isin a set of candidate social/geo/promo link categories (602). In someimplementations, the set of candidate social/geo/promo link categoriesis ordered according to the relevance of the social/geo/promo linkcategories to the requested content of the web page with which therelated social/geo/promo link promotional data set is to be displayed.For an ordered set of candidate social/geo/promo link categories, thetop relevance scoring social/geo/promo link category is selected for thefirst position of the social/geo/promo link promotional data set. Insome implementations, selected social/geo/promo link categories areremoved from the set of candidate social/geo/promo link categories.

As an example, the set of candidate social/geo/promo link categories canbe ordered by relevance to the requested content of a web page. For aset with the following order: A, B, C, D, . . . , L, category A can bechosen as the most relevant social/geo/promo link category for the firstposition of the social/geo/promo link promotional data set.

The process 600 determines whether there is at least one empty (e.g.,unfilled) position remaining in the related social/geo/promo linkpromotional data set (604). In some implementations, the link unitrequest can include the number of social/geo/promo link categoriesdesired for the related social/geo/promo link promotional data set. Ifthere are a predetermined number (e.g., zero) of empty positionsremaining in the related social/geo/promo link promotional data set, theprocess 600 ends (612). Generally, a related social/geo/promo linkpromotional data set is displayed with multiple social/geo/promo linkcategories.

If there is at least one empty position remaining in the relatedsocial/geo/promo link promotional data set, social/geo/promo linkcategories having a correlation measure that is less than a correlationthreshold are identified, where the identified social/geo/promo linkcategories have one or more correlation criteria associated with themost recently selected social/geo/promo link category (606). Theidentified social/geo/promo link categories are in the set of candidatesocial/geo/promo link categories. In some implementations, thecorrelation threshold can be predetermined.

In some implementations the correlation measure can indicate the“distance” between the category identifiers of two social/geo/promo linkcategories. That is, the smaller the correlation measure, the smallerthe “distance” between the category identifiers, and the more similarthe category identifiers are. For this type of correlation measure, thelarger the correlation measure, the less similar the categoryidentifiers are.

Identifying categories that have correlation criteria that are less thana correlation threshold means identifying the categories with a categoryidentifier that is close (within the correlation threshold) to acategory identifier of the most recently selected category.

Alternatively, in some implementations, the correlation measure canindicate the “closeness” of the category identifiers of twosocial/geo/promo link categories. That is, the larger the correlationmeasure, the more similar the category identifiers are. For this type ofcorrelation measure, the process 600 would identify the categorieshaving a correlation measure that is greater than a correlationthreshold.

Continuing the example, if the requested social/geo/promo linkpromotional data set has three positions and only the first position isfilled (by category A), the social/geo/promo link categories having acorrelation measure that is less than a correlation threshold areidentified, where the correlation measure is a measure of how “distant”the identified category is to category A. For example, the categories B,C, E, F, and H can be identified as being too close to category A if oneof the correlation criteria (associated with category A) of each ofthese categories is found to be less than the correlation threshold.

In some implementations, a given social/geo/promo link category in theset of candidate social/geo/promo link categories can have a separatecorrelation measure for at least one pair-wise combination of a categoryidentifier of the given social/geo/promo link category and a categoryidentifier of the most recently selected social/geo/promo link category.If a given social/geo/promo link category in the set of candidatesocial/geo/promo link categories has multiple correlation criteriaassociated with the most recently selected social/geo/promo linkcategory, a composite correlation measure can be determined for thegiven social/geo/promo link category. The composite correlation measurecan be a maximum, a minimum, or a combination (e.g., a weightedcombination) of the separate correlation criteria for the givensocial/geo/promo link category. In these implementations, the candidatesocial/geo/promo link categories which are too close to previouslyselected social/geo/promo link categories can be identified by comparingthe composite correlation criteria of the candidate categories to thecorrelation threshold.

Consider the case, in the above example, where each social/geo/promolink category (A through L) has two category identifiers. Category B hasa separate correlation measure for each pair-wise combination of one ofcategory B's two category identifiers (VI.sub.B1 and VI.sub.B2) and oneof category A's two category identifiers (VI.sub.A1 and VI.sub.A2). Thatis, category B has four separate correlation criteria (SM.sub.B1,A1,SM.sub.B1,A2, SM.sub.B2,A1, and SM.sub.B2,A2), where SM.sub.Bi,Aj is theseparate correlation measure for the pair-wise combination of categoryB's category identifier VI.sub.Bi and category A's category identifierVI.sub.Aj. A composite correlation measure CSM.sub.B,A can be determinedfor category B by taking the maximum, the minimum, or a combination ofthe separate correlation criteria SM.sub.B1,A1, SM.sub.B1,A2,SM.sub.B2,A1, and SM.sub.B2,A2. To find the correlation measure thatindicates the most similar category identifiers when the correlationmeasure represents “distance,” the composite correlation measureCSM.sub.B,A can be set to the minimum of the correlation criteria. Thatis, CSM.sub.B,A=min.sub.i,j{SM.sub.Bi,Aj}. A composite correlationmeasure can be computed for each social/geo/promo link category in theset of candidate social/geo/promo link categories (e.g., categories Bthrough L) with multiple correlation criteria associated with categoryA.

Alternatively, to find the correlation measure that indicates the mostsimilar category identifiers when the correlation measure represents“closeness,” the composite correlation measure CSM.sub.B,A can be set tothe maximum of the correlation criteria. That is,CSM.sub.B,A=max.sub.i,j{SM.sub.Bi,Aj}. For this type of compositecorrelation measure, the process 600 would identify the categorieshaving a composite correlation measure that is greater than acorrelation threshold.

In the example described above, the categories B, C, E, F, and H areidentified as being too close to category A. These candidate categoriescan be identified by comparing the composite correlation criteria withthe correlation threshold. In this example, CSM.sub.B,A, CSM.sub.C,A,CSM.sub.E,A, CSM.sub.F,A, and CSM.sub.H,A are less than the correlationthreshold, where the separate correlation criteria represent “distance.”

Social/geo/promo link categories which are identified are removed fromthe set of candidate social/geo/promo link categories (608). That is,social/geo/promo link categories that are too similar to the mostrecently selected social/geo/promo link category are eliminated fromfurther consideration based on the correlation criteria.

In the above example, identified categories B, C, E, F, and H areremoved from the set of candidate social/geo/promo link categories asbeing too close in correlation to category A. After the identifiedcategories are removed, the set of candidate social/geo/promo linkcategories includes categories D, G, I, J, K, and L.

A next social/geo/promo link category is selected for the next empty(e.g., unfilled) position of the social/geo/promo link promotional dataset, where the next social/geo/promo link category is selected from theset of candidate social/geo/promo link categories (610). For an orderedset of candidate social/geo/promo link categories, the next mostrelevant social/geo/promo link category remaining in the set is selectedfor the next position of the social/geo/promo link promotional data set.

Continuing the example, category D is selected to fill the next (e.g.,second) position of the social/geo/promo link promotional data set.Category D is selected, because category D has the highest relevancescore of the remaining categories in the set of candidatesocial/geo/promo link categories. After category D is selected, the setof candidate social/geo/promo link categories includes categories G, I,J, K, and L.

In some implementations, when the set of candidate social/geo/promo linkcategories is ordered according to relevance, the correlation criteriafor a particular social/geo/promo link category are not compared to thecorrelation threshold unless the preceding social/geo/promo linkcategories in the ordered set have already been selected or eliminated.That is, after the first most relevant social/geo/promo link category isselected, the second social/geo/promo link category in the ordered setis selected if the second social/geo/promo link category is not toosimilar to the first social/geo/promo link category. If the secondsocial/geo/promo link category is too similar, the next social/geo/promolink category in the ordered set is checked for correlation. The processcontinues until the social/geo/promo link positions of thesocial/geo/promo link promotional data set are filled. Referring to theabove example where category A is selected for the first position andcategories B and C are eliminated due to correlation to category A,category D is checked for correlation and selected to fill the next(e.g., second) position of the social/geo/promo link promotional dataset. Categories E through L are not checked for closeness to category A.

If there is at least one empty position remaining in the relatedsocial/geo/promo link promotional data set (604), the process repeatssteps 606 through 610. The elimination and selection process repeatsuntil a number (e.g., all) of the social/geo/promo link positions forthe related social/geo/promo link promotional data set have been filled.If the number (e.g., all) of the positions of the relatedsocial/geo/promo link promotional data set have been filled, the process600 ends (612).

In the above example, only two of the three social/geo/promo linkpositions have been filled, so the elimination and selection processrepeats for the remaining empty social/geo/promo link position.Categories G, I, and J can be identified as being too close incorrelation to category D (e.g., the most recently selectedsocial/geo/promo link category) by comparing the composite correlationmeasure (associated with category D) of these categories to thecorrelation threshold. The identified categories G, I, and J areeliminated from the set of candidate social/geo/promo link categories,and the set then includes categories K and L. Category K is selected tofill the third and final social/geo/promo link position of the relatedsocial/geo/promo link promotional data set.

In some implementations, correlation criteria of social/geo/promo linkcategories can be used to reorder the set of candidate social/geo/promolink categories. That is, instead of or in addition to using thecorrelation criteria to eliminate social/geo/promo link categories,correlation criteria can be used to boost or lower the order position ofa social/geo/promo link category in the ordered set of candidatesocial/geo/promo link categories. For example, the boosting or loweringcan be based on the correlation measure of a social/geo/promo linkcategory relative to the correlation criteria of other social/geo/promolink categories. In this implementation, the ordering of the set ofcandidate social/geo/promo link categories can account for bothrelevance to requested content and correlation to previously selectedsocial/geo/promo link categories.

FIG. 31 is a flow diagram of an example process 700 for providingmultiple related social/geo/promo link promotional data sets withclustered categories. The process 700 begins by determining whetherthere is at least one empty (e.g., unfilled) related social/geo/promolink promotional data set (702). In some implementations, the relatedsocial/geo/promo link promotional data set request can include thenumber of related social/geo/promo link promotional data sets desired.If there are a predetermined number (e.g., zero) of empty relatedsocial/geo/promo link promotional data sets remaining, the process 700ends (716).

At the start of the process 700, the requested social/geo/promo linkpromotional data sets have not been filled, so the process 700 continuesto the next step to fill the first requested social/geo/promo linkpromotional data set. A first social/geo/promo link category is selectedfor a first position of the social/geo/promo link promotional data set,where the first social/geo/promo link category is in a set of candidatesocial/geo/promo link categories (704). In some implementations, the setof candidate social/geo/promo link categories is ordered according tothe relevance of the social/geo/promo link categories to the requestedcontent of the web page with which the related social/geo/promo linkpromotional data sets are to be displayed. For an ordered set ofcandidate social/geo/promo link categories, the top relevance scoringsocial/geo/promo link category is selected for the first position of thefirst social/geo/promo link promotional data set.

As a second example, the ordered set can have the following order: A, B,C, D, . . . , L. Category A can be chosen as the most relevantsocial/geo/promo link category for the first position of the firstsocial/geo/promo link promotional data set.

The process 700 determines whether there is at least one empty (e.g.,unfilled) position remaining in the related social/geo/promo linkpromotional data set (706). In some implementations, the relatedsocial/geo/promo link promotional data set request can include thenumber of social/geo/promo link categories desired for each relatedsocial/geo/promo link promotional data set.

If there is at least one empty position remaining in the relatedsocial/geo/promo link promotional data set, social/geo/promo linkcategories having a correlation measure that is greater than acorrelation threshold are identified, where at least one identifiedsocial/geo/promo link category has one or more correlation criteriaassociated with the most recently selected social/geo/promo linkcategory (708). The identified social/geo/promo link categories are inthe set of candidate social/geo/promo link categories. In someimplementations, the correlation threshold can be predetermined. Becausethe social/geo/promo link categories within a social/geo/promo linkpromotional data set are being clustered, the social/geo/promo linkcategories with correlation criteria which are greater than thecorrelation threshold are identified. That is, for a correlation measurethat indicates “distance,” the social/geo/promo link categories with acorrelation measure greater than the correlation threshold are thecategories that are too diverse to be clustered with the most recentlyselected social/geo/promo link category.

Alternatively, in some implementations, the correlation measure canindicate the “closeness” of the category identifiers of twosocial/geo/promo link categories. For this type of correlation measure,the process 700 would identify the categories having a correlationmeasure that is less than a correlation threshold.

In some implementations, a given social/geo/promo link category in theset of candidate social/geo/promo link categories can have a separatecorrelation measure for at least one pair-wise combination of a categoryidentifier of the given social/geo/promo link category and a categoryidentifier of the most recently selected social/geo/promo link category.A composite correlation measure can be determined for the givensocial/geo/promo link category, for example, by taking a maximum, aminimum, or a combination (e.g., a weighted combination) of the separatecorrelation criteria for the given social/geo/promo link category. Inthese implementations, the social/geo/promo link categories which aretoo diverse can be identified by comparing the composite correlationcriteria to the correlation threshold.

Continuing the second example, if the first social/geo/promo linkpromotional data set has three positions and only the first position isfilled (by category A), the social/geo/promo link categories having acomposite correlation measure that is greater than a correlationthreshold are identified, where the correlation measure is a measure ofhow “distant” the identified category is to category A. For example, thecategories D, G, I, J, and K can be identified as being too diverserelative to category A if the composite correlation measure (associatedwith category A) of these categories is found to be greater than thecorrelation threshold. Social/geo/promo link categories which areidentified are removed from the set of candidate social/geo/promo linkcategories (710). That is, social/geo/promo link categories that are toodiverse relative to the most recently selected social/geo/promo linkcategory are eliminated from further consideration based on thecorrelation criteria.

In the above second example, identified categories D, G, I, J, and K areremoved from the set of candidate social/geo/promo link categories asbeing too diverse relative to category A. After the identifiedcategories are removed, the set of candidate social/geo/promo linkcategories includes categories B, C, E, F, H, and L.

A next social/geo/promo link category is selected for the next empty(e.g., unfilled) position of the social/geo/promo link promotional dataset, where the next social/geo/promo link category is selected from theset of candidate social/geo/promo link categories (712). For an orderedset of candidate social/geo/promo link categories, the next mostrelevant social/geo/promo link category remaining in the set is selectedfor the next position of the social/geo/promo link promotional data set.

Continuing the second example, category B is selected to fill the next(e.g., second) position of the first social/geo/promo link promotionaldata set. Category B is selected, because category B has the highestrelevance score of the remaining categories in the set of candidatesocial/geo/promo link categories. After category B is selected, the setof candidate social/geo/promo link categories includes categories C, E,F, H, and L.

In some implementations, when the set of candidate social/geo/promo linkcategories is ordered according to relevance, the correlation criteriafor a particular social/geo/promo link category are not compared to thecorrelation threshold unless the preceding social/geo/promo linkcategories in the ordered set have already been selected or eliminated.Referring to the second example where category A is selected for thefirst position, category B is checked for correlation and selected tofill the next (e.g., second) position of the social/geo/promo linkpromotional data set. Categories C through L are not checked forcloseness to category A.

If there is at least one empty position remaining in the relatedsocial/geo/promo link promotional data set (706), the process repeatssteps 708 through 712. The elimination and selection process repeatsuntil a number (e.g., all) of the social/geo/promo link positions forthe related social/geo/promo link promotional data set have been filled.

In the above second example, only two of the three social/geo/promo linkpositions have been filled, so the elimination and selection processrepeats for the remaining empty social/geo/promo link position. In thisexample iteration, none of the categories are identified as being toodistant relative to category B (e.g., the most recently selectedsocial/geo/promo link category), so none of the categories areeliminated from the set of candidate social/geo/promo link categories.The set still includes categories C, E, F, H, and L. Category C isselected to fill the third and final social/geo/promo link position ofthe first related social/geo/promo link promotional data set. The set ofcandidate social/geo/promo link categories then consists of categoriesE, F, H, and L.

If a number (e.g., all) of the positions of the related social/geo/promolink promotional data set have been filled, the process 700 returns tostep 702. Again, the process 700 determines whether there is at leastone empty (e.g., unfilled) related social/geo/promo link promotionaldata set remaining (702). Consider the case, in the second example,where two related social/geo/promo link promotional data sets arerequested. Because only the first related social/geo/promo linkpromotional data set has been filled, the process 700 repeats for thesecond requested social/geo/promo link promotional data set.

Before continuing to step 704, the process 700 adds a number (e.g., all)of the removed identified social/geo/promo link categories to the set ofcandidate social/geo/promo link categories (714). This step is notperformed for the first social/geo/promo link promotional data set,because before the first social/geo/promo link position is filled in thefirst social/geo/promo link promotional data set, social/geo/promo linkcategories have not been removed from the set of candidatesocial/geo/promo link categories. For later social/geo/promo linkpromotional data sets, previously removed social/geo/promo linkcategories are added back to the set of candidate social/geo/promo linkcategories because, although these categories were too dissimilar to beincluded in the cluster for the first social/geo/promo link promotionaldata set, the social/geo/promo link categories for the othersocial/geo/promo link promotional data sets are chosen to be diverserelative to the social/geo/promo link categories selected for the firstsocial/geo/promo link promotional data set.

Referring to the second example, the social/geo/promo link categories D,G, I, J, and K which were previously removed during the filling of thefirst social/geo/promo link promotional data set are added back to theset of candidate social/geo/promo link categories. That is, the set ofcandidate social/geo/promo link categories then includes categories E,F, H, and L (which had not been removed) and the added categories D, G,I, J, and K.

The process 700 repeats steps 704 through 714 until there are apredetermined number (e.g., zero) of remaining empty social/geo/promolink promotional data sets to be filled. If there are a predeterminednumber (e.g., zero) of empty social/geo/promo link promotional data setsremaining, the process 700 ends (716).

The features described can be implemented in digital electroniccircuitry, or in computer hardware, firmware, software, or incombinations of them. The features can be implemented in a computerprogram product tangibly embodied in an information carrier, e.g., in amachine-readable storage device or in a propagated signal, for executionby a programmable processor; and method steps can be performed by aprogrammable processor executing a program of instructions to performfunctions of the described implementations by operating on input dataand generating output.

The described features can be implemented advantageously in one or morecomputer programs that are executable on a programmable system includingat least one programmable processor coupled to receive data andinstructions from, and to transmit data and instructions to, a datastorage system, at least one input device, and at least one outputdevice. A computer program is a set of instructions that can be used,directly or indirectly, in a computer to perform a certain activity orbring about a certain result. A computer program can be written in anyform of programming language (e.g., Objective-C, Java), includingcompiled or interpreted languages, and it can be deployed in any form,including as a stand-alone program or as a module, component,subroutine, or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment.

Suitable processors for the execution of a program of instructionsinclude, by way of example, both general and special purposemicroprocessors, and the sole processor or one of multiple processors orcores, of any kind of computer. Generally, a processor will receiveinstructions and data from a read-only memory or a random access memoryor both. The essential elements of a computer are a processor forexecuting instructions and one or more memories for storing instructionsand data. Generally, a computer will also include, or be operativelycoupled to communicate with, one or more mass storage devices forstoring data files; such devices include magnetic disks, such asinternal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; andoptical disks. Storage devices suitable for tangibly embodying computerprogram instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory,including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, such as EPROM,EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks such as internal harddisks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROMdisks. The processor and the memory can be supplemented by, orincorporated in, ASICs (application-specific integrated circuits).

To provide for interaction with a user, the features can be implementedon a computer having a display device such as a CRT (cathode ray tube)or LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor for displaying information tothe user and a keyboard and a pointing device such as a mouse or atrackball by which the user can provide input to the computer.

The features can be implemented in a computer system that includes aback-end component, such as a data server, or that includes a middlewarecomponent, such as an application server or an Internet server, or thatincludes a front-end component, such as a client computer having agraphical user interface or an Internet browser, or any combination ofthem. The components of the system can be connected by any form ormedium of digital data communication such as a communication network.Examples of communication networks include, e.g., a LAN, a WAN, and thecomputers and networks forming the Internet.

The computer system can include clients and servers. A client and serverare generally remote from each other and typically interact through anetwork. The relationship of client and server arises by virtue ofcomputer programs running on the respective computers and having aclient-server relationship to each other.

Potential Aspects or Elements of the Claimed Invention that can beOptionally Excluded or Negatively Claimed.

The present invention can also in particular claimed embodiments excludeor negatively claim one or more aspect of the following list, e.g., tomore particularly recite or exclude embodiments or elements that mightoccur in cited or other published art. Accordingly, the presentinvention can optionally exclude, not include, or not provide, one ofmore, or any combination of, promotion, online coupons, mobile services,assortment of entertainment and entertainment shopping, penny auctionsor online auctions, advertisements and affiliate advertising or servicesfor such items as e-commerce, media and entertainment, sports, personal& financial network, real estate, educational services, sports andsporting events interest, ancillary services, advertisements, serviceproviders, social networking, social networking communities, socialnetworking activities, social plugins, ad links, promotions, socialapplications, entertainment shopping, penny auctions or online auctions,advertisements and affiliate advertising or services, social networking,social networking communities, messaging, online communications, userprofiles, viewing public & private user profiles, online dating, gaming,and/retail stores, virtual communities and virtual goods and informationabout microloans or microcredit, humanitarian aid and supporting otherworldly causes such as saving the children, hunger & poverty, cleanwater supply, global warming, Amazon Rain Forest and saving our planetfrom grave ecological harm through charitable donations or sustainablegifts, e.g., but not limited to, various types of real estate (e.g.vacant land, residential, commercial, recreational, retail, shoppingmalls, hotels, motels, golf courses, resorts, marinas, industrial,vacation, time shares, condominiums, multifamily, and other types ofreal estate etc.), travel & hospitality services, educational services,ancillary services, (e.g. brokers, agents, relocation services, internetmarketing, concierge, transportation, entertainment, lenders,appraisers, education, developers, contractors, inspectors, homeimprovements/remodeling, basement designs, landscaping, home warranties,insurance, indoor & outdoor furniture, fixtures, windows, siding,roofing, heating/cooling, solar, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, andadditional services etc.) and providing other services such as loans andquotes, auto loans, mortgages, banking services, family fun, educationalinterests, restaurants, events, consumer packaged goods, groceries,apparel, beverages, books & magazines, foods, health care, household,office, personal care, pet care, photography, autos, business, classiccar parts, restoration and maintenance services, collectibles & art,custom car parts, restoration and maintenance services, deals & giftseducation, electronics, fashion, financial, healthcare, home, outdoor &décor, travel & hospitality services, insurance, online services, otherlegal, marketing, medical facilities, medical insurance, medicalretailers, motors, pets, physicians, dentists, other practioners, publicservices, psychics, mediums & spiritual advisors, travel & hospitality,real estate, sports and sporting events interests, ancillary services,sports, travel, tourism, wedding, parties & media and entertainment,online dating, and the like. The present invention can also exclude oneor more of the following: (1) finding social awareness of companiesfound in patent searches; (2) showing entities such as companies onmaps; (3) finding local travel & hospitality, real estate, educationalservices & ancillary service providers and other types of serviceproviders on map searches; (4) ranking entities found using geospatialmapping; (5) representing objects (e.g., brand or logo or product) ofentities on a geospatial map; (6) providing local comparative shoppinginformation to members on a website; and/or (7) modeling user views toinclude objects (brand, logo, or product) of entities in localenvironment.

Although various embodiments of this invention have been described abovewith a certain degree of particularity, and/or with reference to oneand/or more individual embodiments, those skilled in the art could makenumerous alterations to the disclosed embodiments without departing fromthe spirit and/or scope of this invention. And while the subject matterhas been described in language specific to structural features and/ormethodological arts, it is to be understood that the subject matterdefined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to thespecific features and/or acts descried above. Rather, the specificfeatures and acts described above are disclosed as example forms ofimplementing the claimed subject matter. It is intended that all mattercontained in the above description and/or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting.Changes in detail and/or structure can be made without departing fromthe basic elements of the invention as defined in the following claims.

EXAMPLES Exemplary Implementation of Non-Limiting Embodiments of thePresent Invention

The following example is shown by way of example and is not intended tolimit the scope of the present invention in any way.

Example 1: Social Earth, Inc.: Description of Present Invention Example

The present invention in a non-limiting embodiment called SOCIAL EARTH™provides, in one aspect, for an infrastructure and global platform thatprovides users and members and businesses of all types with access tobroad markets for the delivery of Social Earth ad links, promotions,online coupons, mobile services, Educational related Products, Goods,and/or Services or services from merchants and sellers from around theworld to its highly-engaged Social Shoppers via its unique live view ofthe planet. The site includes links to places and events, data on thelandscape, interactive 360 panoramas, fly-through shopping tours withstunning 3D imagery and videos, advertising on the landscape, advancedsearch for private and public information, social networkingintegration, self-posting for uploading user generated content, customtools, apps, widgets and other embodiments. SOCIAL EARTH™ will includeSocial Earth Mobile allowing Social Shoppers to receive Social EarthMobile Coupons for Educational related Products, Goods, and/or Servicesor services based upon their precise location using GPS and GIStechnologies. Mobile apps for smart phones (Android and tablets, iPhone,iPod Touch and iPad) are provided that will allow Social Shoppers toreceive Social Earth Mobile products, services, or retail based upontheir precise location or other criteria, such as shopping or interestpreferences. With Social Earth Mobile, Social Shoppers can explore thesame 3D imagery and terrain as the desktop version. Fly to your currentlocation or just about anywhere in the world with the touch of a button.Pan, zoom, and tilt your view as you travel around the globe. Search forcities, places and businesses around the world. View layers ofgeographic information and more. The invention provides opportunities toreach people at the point of shopping—a benefit both to shoppers andmerchants. What do you get when you combine a global marketplace withbuyers and sellers and ad links, promotions, online coupons, Educationalrelated Products, Goods, and/or Services or services from merchants andsellers from around the world, including without limitation, for suchitems as products, services, e-commerce, media and entertainment,sports, personal & financial network, real estate, educational services,sports and sporting events interest, ancillary services, advertisements,service providers, social networking, online dating, gaming, retailstores, virtual communities and virtual goods and information aboutmicroloans or microcredit, humanitarian aid and support other worldlycauses through charitable donations or sustainable gifts, the socialmedia revolution and the power of geo-mapping technology? You get acutting-edge online experience that blends the best of online shoppingand social networking and takes it to a stratospheric new height calledSOCIAL EARTH™.

Unlike any other shopping site, when Social Earth site subscriberscalled Social Shoppers (OR SE SHOPPERS), visit the Social Earth website,e.g., at www.socialearth.co, they are invited to travel virtually aroundthe globe in search of ad links, promotions, online coupons, mobileservices, Educational related Products, Goods, and/or Services orservices from merchants and sellers from around the world. Thisone-of-a-kind website aggregates ad links, promotions, online coupons,mobile services, Educational related Products, Goods, and/or Services orservices from merchants and sellers from around the world (collectivelyreferred to as “Social Earth Shopping”) and showcases them in theiractual, physical location on the websites through GPS technology andunique Live View of Earth. As Social Shoppers shop the world forcoupons, Educational related Products, Goods, and/or Services, they canview Social Earth Shopping from major brands for ad links, promotions,online coupons, mobile services Educational related Products, Goods,and/or Services or services from merchants and sellers from around theworld for such items as: Educational related Products, Goods, and/orServices, service providers, media and entertainment, sports, personal &financial network, travel & hospitality services, real estate,educational services, ancillary services, advertisements, serviceproviders, social networking, online dating, gaming, retail stores,virtual communities and virtual goods and information about microloansor microcredit, humanitarian aid and support other worldly causes suchas saving the children, hunger & poverty, clean water supply, globalwarming, Amazon Rain Forest and saving our planet from grave ecologicalharm through charitable donations or sustainable gifts, e.g., but notlimited to, online auctions, various types of real estate (e.g. vacantland, residential, commercial, recreational, retail, shopping malls,hotels, motels, golf courses, resorts, marinas, industrial, vacation,time shares, condominiums, multifamily, and other types of real estateetc.), educational services, ancillary services, loans and quotes, autoloans, mortgages, banking services, and/or any other product or service,e.g., but not limited to, family fun, sports, restaurants, events andhundreds of top consumer packaged goods brands for groceries, apparel,beverages, books & magazines, foods, health care, household, office,personal care, pet care, photography and other embodiments.

Social Shoppers will find great ad links, promotions, online coupons,mobile services, Educational related Products, Goods, and/or Services,assortment of entertainment and entertainment shopping, penny auctions,or online auctions, advertisements and affiliate advertising or servicesfrom merchants and sellers from the leading travel & hospitalityindustry, restaurants, toy and entertainment companies and top retailersaround the world. Social Shoppers can select a target location in theU.S., e.g., but not limited to, Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, Denver, SanDiego, San Francisco or in other cities around the world. SocialShoppers can find product or services deals in London or they can tourthe planet at will, jumping from Hong Kong to Amsterdam to Buenos Airesto check out the bargains. Because the Earth view comes live fromsatellite and webcam images, shoppers can zoom in for a closer look orzoom out to gain perspective on the location.

SOCIAL EARTH™ will offer advertising opportunities for serviceproviders, business centers, affiliates and business owners e.g. forbusiness services, healthcare services, specialty financial services,consumer products, specialty retail and media and entertainment,lenders, mortgage companies, auto finance companies and other businessowners' who want to reach millions of users and members online on SocialEarth. Advertisements will appear at the top of consumers' property andservice provider search results ahead of other properties meeting theirsearch criteria. Realtors, mortgage lending, auto finance, financialservices, healthcare, travel & hospitality services, cars, insurance,online education, government services, media and entertainment andsports industry, travel industry, top internet advertisers, socialbrands and thousands of service providers, business owners andaffiliates will have the ability to purchase advertising space, whichwill appear at the top of consumers' property and service providersearch results ahead of other properties meeting their search criteria.Consumers can learn about neighborhoods, property values, schools,shopping centers, and cost of living features and join with thousands ofservice providers and business owners from around the world. Our goal isto help consumers conveniently connect with thousands of serviceproviders and business owners to find what they're looking for in ourSocial Earth Personal Network.

SOCIAL EARTH™ will also provide links and free real estate informationand mortgage quotes from national lenders and mortgage companies for thepurchase of a new home, refinance, consolidating debt, auto loans,insurance quotes or home equity loans. The SOCIAL EARTH™ database willinclude links to millions of residential listings, commercial propertiesand thousands of service providers and business owners. Millions ofusers and members will search online and align with thousands of serviceproviders and business owners in search of everything from “A” to “Z”whether its buying a home or a new or used car, finding an apartment ora medical professional or healthcare provider, booking travel, weatherupdates, breaking news, reading about your favorite celebrity orentertainer or sports' team, SOCIAL EARTH™ has it all.

The Company's website will populate the virtual landscape with varioustypes of real estate (e.g. vacant land, residential, commercial,recreational, retail, shopping malls, hotels, motels, golf courses,resorts, marinas, industrial, vacation, time shares, condominiums,multifamily, and other types of real estate, etc.), travel & hospitalityservices, educational services, ancillary services (e.g. brokers,agents, relocation services, internet marketing, concierge,transportation, hospitality, lenders, appraisers, education, developers,contractors, inspectors, home improvements/remodeling, basement designs,landscaping, home warranties, insurance, indoor & outdoor furniture,fixtures, windows, siding, roofing, heating/cooling, solar, plumbing,electrical, mechanical, and additional etc.), advertisements fromservice providers and various links from the desired search request.Consumers can zoom in and out of the Social Earth Personal Network,click on advertisements and links and see the exact location of abusiness, retailer, restaurant or shopping mall on the landscape.Advertisements will appear at the top of the consumers' property andservice provider search results. Home buyers and renters can learn aboutneighborhoods, property values, apartments, schools, shopping centers,cost of living and connect with thousands of real estate professionals,educational services, ancillary services and other service providers andbusiness owners from around the world. The SOCIAL EARTH™ PersonalNetwork will allow consumers too easily and conveniently search for allof their personal and financial services from the comfort of their home.The future of searching for all of your personal and financial needs viathe Internet is here with the development of a SOCIAL EARTH™ PersonalNetwork.

SOCIAL EARTH™ displays, organizes and delivers information across manysocial layers and social media sites featuring top-notch content,stunning satellite imagery, aerial photography and graphic animatedcolor overlays on top of Google Earth™. SOCIAL EARTH™ delivers adelightful mash-up of content, Social Earth Shopping and live socialnetworking feeds from, e.g., Twitter™. Social Earth™ utilizes the topsocial networking platforms such as Facebook™ and Twitter™ to allowSocial Shoppers to share the latest product or services deals with theirfriends. Unlike Groupon™ Livingsocial™ or Google Offers™, SOCIAL EARTH™aggregates Social Earth Shopping on its site. Social Shoppers areencouraged to share these product or services deals with their friendsin Facebook™ and Twitter™. The global sharing capabilities are builtinto SOCIAL EARTH™ technology using sophisticated technology integratinggeospatial mapping, layering location-relevant data, and GPStechnologies.

Social Shoppers are able to find great products or services in theirlocal areas or just about anywhere else in the world with the click of amouse or input on their mobile device. Capitalizing on the popularity ofsocial networking giants such as Facebook™ and Twitter™ with more than750 million users worldwide, SOCIAL EARTH™ creates an online communitythat taps into the power of social networking by integrating live socialfeeds from these social networking giants directly into its website. Bycreating a highly engaged social networking community, Social Earthcreates “stickiness,” keeping the Social Shoppers on the site for longperiods of time, as well as bringing them back again and again. In otherwords, SOCIAL EARTH™ provides long-time customer loyalty, not just aone-off deal.

Social Earth™ also provides microloans or microcredit and donates aportion of each “Social Earth online coupon, mobile services, Products,Goods or Services” that are sold on Social Earth will be allocated tomicroloans or microcredit, humanitarian aid or other worldly cause orsustainable gift to help those in need. The community aspect of SOCIALEARTH™ is the driver behind building awareness of the website and itsfeatured ad links, promotions, online coupons, mobile services,Educational related Products, Goods, and/or Services or services frommerchants and sellers from around the world. Existing and potentialcustomers provide advertising by spreading the word to their friendsabout the great product or services deals they have found on a shoppingsite such as SOCIAL EARTH™. Add to that the power of collective buyingand its easy to see how the SOCIAL EARTH™ community can leverage groupsize in exchange for larger discounts. Social Earth delivers ad links,promotions, online coupons, mobile services, Educational relatedProducts, Goods, and/or Services or services from merchants and sellersfrom around the world to its Social Shoppers via its unique live view ofthe Earth that includes links to places and events, data on thelandscape, interactive 360 panoramas, fly-through shopping tours withstunning 3D imagery. The use of geospatial mapping for associatinginformation to specific places can included, but it not limited to, oneor more of: Live links to places and events; Data on the landscape; Zoomto birds-eye and human scale views; 3D custom audio/visual content;Interactive 360 panoramas; Fly-through tours with content, narration,music; Stunning imagery and videos; 3D buildings and landscapinge-commerce and mobile banking tools and hooks; Advertising on thelandscape; Advanced search for private and public information; Socialnetworking integration; Self-posting for uploading user generatedcontent; Custom tools, apps and widgets; and the like. SOCIAL EARTH™Mobile sends mobile coupons to Social Shoppers based upon their preciselocation. This provides opportunities to reach people at the point ofshopping—a benefit both to shoppers and merchants.

Social Layers. Social Shoppers virtually travel around the globe insearch of shopping products or services, as well as bargains. SocialEarths technology will drive content, ad links, promotions, onlinecoupons, mobile services, Educational related Products, Goods, and/orServices or services from merchants and sellers from around the worldinto a “virtual Earth” based upon their precise location and GPStechnology. Social Shoppers will be able to view Social Earth™ Shoppingfrom around the world by geo-target location, their hometown or anothercity around the world and virtually travel there. This one-of-a-kindwebsite aggregates Social Earth™ Shopping from around the world andshowcase them in their actual, physical location on the virtual Earth.Because the virtual Earth is “interactive,” one can zoom in for a moredetailed view or zoom out to gain perspective on where they are in theworld. Social Earth™ Shopping can last for days, weeks or even months.What makes Social Earths website different from other group buyingwebsites is that Social Earth's™ website allows Social Shoppers tosearch for ad links, promotions, online coupons, mobile services,Educational related Products, Goods, and/or Services, assortment ofentertainment and entertainment shopping, penny auctions or onlineauctions, as well as advertisements and affiliate advertising orservices from merchants and sellers from around the world on a virtualEarth. Users will be able to customize their buying preferences, engagein social networking, social networking communities, social networkingactivities and support worthwhile causes. Social Earth's™ website allowsSocial Shoppers to select from a menu of coupons based upon theirpreferences, which is integrated into the virtual Earth along with otherlayer location-relevant data as Social Shoppers shop online and interactwith their friends on Facebook™ and Twitter™. Advertisers and merchantswill send coupons to Social Shoppers based on geo-target location.

Social Earth™ develops layer applications, which are known as “sociallayers.” These social layers allow Social Shoppers to customize theirpersonal experience on SOCIAL EARTH™ as they search for Social Earth™Shopping in their local area or just about anywhere else in the worldbased upon their interests or travels take them. Social Shoppers selectfrom a menu of “Purchase” coupon categories such as. (Arts &Entertainment, Travel, Giving Back, Eat & Drink, Deal of the Day) and“Free” coupon categories such as: (Health & Beauty, Sports, Shopping,Groceries). Social Shoppers may be able to search for other products andservices such as: Autos, Business, Classic Car Parts, Restoration andMaintenance Services, Collectibles & Art, Custom Car Parts, Restorationand Maintenance Services, Deals & Gifts, Education, Electronics,Fashion, Financial, Healthcare, Home, Outdoor & Décor, Travel &Hospitality Services, Insurance, Online Services, Other Legal,Marketing, Medical Facilities, Medical Insurance, Medical Retailers,Motors, Pets Physicians, Dentists, Other Practioners, Public Services,Psychics, Intuitives, Metaphysical, Mediums & Spiritual Advisors, RealEstate, Educational Services, Ancillary Services, Sports, Tourism,Wedding, Parties & Entertainment, Online Dating and Free Coupons).Social Earth™ drives traffic to its website by targeting Social EarthShopping from around the world, based upon a users and memberspreference, which are displayed on a unique Live View of planet Earth.Once a Social Shopper selects one or more coupon categories,entertainment shopping, penny auctions or online auctions,advertisements and affiliate advertising or services from merchants andsellers from around the world will populate the virtual Earth. SocialShoppers are able to double click on Social Earth Shopping and flydirectly to its location on Earth. Social Shoppers can also click on oneof the featured cities and take a tour of London, San Francisco orDenver and zoom down to street level to take a closer look. SocialShoppers enjoy the experience of virtually traveling around the world,zooming in and out to street level in search for great product orservices deals and sharing the latest product, goods or services, pennyauction or online auction with their friends.

In connection with a one-of-a-kind geospatial website aggregates SocialEarth™ Shopping from around the world and showcases them in theiractual, physical location on the websites unique live view of Earth. AsSocial Shoppers shop the world for bargains, they can view Social EarthShopping from major brands for family fun, sports, restaurants, eventsand hundreds of top consumer packaged goods brands for groceries,apparel, beverages, books & magazines, foods, health care, household,office, personal care, pet care, photography and other embodiments.Social Shoppers can find great products, goods or services deals fromthe leading travel & hospitality industry, restaurants, toy andentertainment companies and top retailers around the world. SocialShoppers can use “a mobile device payment method and system foreffectuating an online payment through a computer or mobile deviceequipped carrier or a mobile device equipped bank using a mobile usersand members device in connection with e-commerce and mobile bankingtransactions on the host geospatial website or mobile device (e.g.,mobile telephone, PDA, laptop computer, etc.); wherein users and memberscreate and maintain a rich-media application via a geospatial mappingplatform via the Internet comprising: mobile banking and electronicpayments.

The delivery system for a host geospatial website (accessible via amobile device or computer) will provide for a multidimensionalrepresentation of information and scalable version of web content forthe delivery of Social Earth™ Shopping from around the world on a threedimensional geospatial platform using geospatial mapping technology. Ahost geospatial website will include realistic virtual landscape usingsatellite and aerial photography that will include many content layersof web based information, e-commerce and mobile banking links, socialnetworking and virtual advertisements for a richer user experience. Ahost geospatial website shall store images, web-based content, socialdata, social plugins, social applications, penny auctions or onlineauctions, advertisements and share live social feeds from socialnetworking giants such as Facebook™ and Twitter™ and othercommunications in real-time. Connecting Social Earth Shopping fromaround the world with users and members known as “Social Shoppers” inreal-time on a geographical area across multiple social layers that aredisplayed as graphic animated color overlays on a three dimensionalgeospatial platform using geospatial mapping technology. Morespecifically, it relates to a method for users and members known as“Social Shoppers” to effectuate banking and electronic payments;accessing a user account, engaging in mobile social activities andviewing available options via a three dimensional geospatial mappingplatform using geospatial mapping technology.”

Giving Back: Social Shoppers will be able to help those who have beenimpacted by a natural disaster, live in impoverished conditions or areless fortunate in the world. Social Shoppers are able to purchasecoupons from merchants who support humanitarian causes in developingcountries and charities in their communities and local and global causesaround our planet and relief efforts for natural and man made disastersincluding devastating earthquakes and tsunamis. For example, fly toJapan and view a video on the Japan relief effort. By tapping into thepower of social networking and bringing together a collectiveconsciousness with millions of Social Shoppers, Social Earth raisesawareness for global issues for such causes as saving the children,hunger & poverty, clean water supply, Amazon Rain Forest, global warmingand saving our planet from grave ecological harm and millions of dollarsfor microloans or microcredit, humanitarian aid and support otherworldly causes.

Example 2: Further Description of Social Earth Example

Business Description:

What do you get when you combine the daily deal phenomenon, the socialmedia revolution and the power of geospatial technology? You get acutting-edge online experience that blends the best of social networkingwith daily deals, e-commerce, sports, education and other servicestaking it to a stratospheric new height called “Social Earth” that alsogives back to our planet. The demo website for Social Earth is locatedat www.socialearth.co. You will need to install the Google Earthplug-in, which has been downloaded more than one billion times sinceOctober 2011, to navigate around Social Earth.

Unlike any other shopping site, Social Earth will use geospatialtechnology allowing its members to virtually travel around the globe insearch of their friends, the best bargains, daily deals and otherEducational related Products, Goods, and/or Services in their exactphysical location on the planet. Users will be able to select theirfavorite cities and virtually travel there in an instant. SocialShoppers will be amazed at the stunning satellite imagery as theyvirtually travel around the selected city or fly to another location inan instant. Use the “Fly Anywhere on Earth” tool and type in a physicaladdress or search for a famous landmark such as the “Eiffel Tower” inParis, France, the “Statue of Liberty” in New York or the “Taj Mahal” inIndia. Use the Google Navigation Tool to zoom down to street level totake a closer look of the high-resolution satellite imagery of theEarth's surface.

This one-of-a-kind social networking website that will be built as alayer on top of Google Earth™ using GIS and geospatial technologies toconnect merchants from around the world with their customers at theexact point of shopping. Social Shoppers will be able to select adesired location on the planet and zoom in and out of the locallandscape. Social Shoppers will be able to view some of the bestshopping in their local area or cosmopolitan cities around the worldsuch as London, New York and Paris. Because the Earth view comes livefrom satellite and webcam images, Social Shoppers will be able tovirtually travel around gaining a perspective on their precise location.Social Earth will feature stunning satellite imagery, aerial photographyand graphic animated color overlays on top of Google Earth™ givingSocial Shoppers a wonderful perspective of our planet.1 This globalshopping site is going to bring users exactly to the point of shoppingin an instant.

As Social Shoppers search the globe for great bargains, they will beable to shop online for family fun, merchandise, restaurants, sportingevents and hundreds of top consumer packaged goods from major brands.Users will choose from a variety of coupon options such as: (Arts &Entertainment, Travel, Giving Back, Eat & Drink, Deal of the Day). AsSocial Shoppers make their selections, coupons will populate thetargeted city based upon their preferences. For example, if a user isinterested in finding the latest travel deals around the globe, theywill click on Travel and coupons for airlines, hotel, rental cars orcruises will populate the globe. Select Eat & Drink to find great dealsat a nearby restaurant, bar & club, organic foods, etc.

For the savvy Social Shopper, Social Earth will offer free couponoptions for: (Health & Beauty, Sports, Shopping & Groceries). SelectHealth & Beauty to find discounts on bath & body, fitness, weight lossand salons & spas. Select Sports to find great bargains on golf,exercise equipment, indoor & outdoor activities and more. The Companyalso plans on offering online auctions and penny auctions where userscan find great Educational related Products, Goods, and/or Services forup to ninety percent (90%) off the retail price.

Users will also be able to connect online just like in the real world,interact with their circle of friends, play games, search for a schoolor university, popular restaurant, museum, sporting event or art galleryon a fun interactive social networking platform. The Company believesthat geospatial technology is the wave of the future with tremendouscapacity for growth. As emerging geospatial technologies continue toexpand over the Internet, the Company sees a tremendous opportunity tocapture a share of the market by being one of the first socialnetworking sites to use geospatial technology in conjunction with socialmedia, online shopping, sports, education, telecommunications and more.

Social Networking Community

Users will be able to connect online just like in the real world. AsSocial Shoppers search the globe for great bargains, they will be ableto interact with their friends in our social networking community, view“live social feeds” from Facebook™ and Twitter™ and “talk live” onSkype™ sharing the latest deals with their friends. Users will also beable to play games, follow their favorite sports team, search for agreat restaurant, a museum, art gallery or other Educational relatedProducts, Goods, and/or Services, upload videos & photos, send instantmessages and video chat with their circles of friends.

The Company plans on capitalizing on the popularity of social networkinggiants Facebook™ and Twitter™, with a combined 900 million usersworldwide, by integrating “live social” feeds into its website. TheCompany plans on developing an application that can be downloaded byusers in these popular social networks. On average people on Facebook™install applications more than 20 million times per day. More than 350million active users currently use Facebook™ through their mobiledevices.

As more and more people sign up for Social Earth around the world, ahighly engaged social networking community will create “stickiness” thatwill keep users coming back to the site for again and again. The socialnetworking community aspect of Social Earth will be the driver behindconnecting users with their circle of friends and spreading the wordabout the latest bargains, hippest restaurant, sharing photos, sendinginstant messages and video chat. Add to that the power of collectivebuying and it's easy to see how the social networking community will beable to leverage group size in exchange for larger discounts. TheCompany plans on giving users the option to select different foreignlanguages to attract users from outside the US and around the world.

Giving Back

Social Earth will give back to our planet and help children, familiesand others in need from around the world by donating a portion of eachsale to humanitarian aid, charitable donations and sustainable gifts.Social Earth plans on giving back to our planet by supportingorganizations that promote reducing ecological impact and saving ourPlanet from grave ecological harm. Social Shoppers will also be able tosupport causes by contributing through the Social Earth Shopping Cart.

Products & Services Description

The Company plans on delivering a global interface with a unique onlineshopping experience with social networking and multitude of products andservice in their local area or just about any place around the world asusers virtually tour around our planet. They will be able to: Use SocialEarth after installing a Google Earth™ plug-in. This one-of-a-kindsocial networking website that will use GIS and geospatial technology toreach people at the point of shopping displaying the exact location ofdaily deals, coupons, products & services in their actual, physicallocation on the planet. Users will be able to connect online just likein the real world and interact with their circle of friends. Use the“Fly Any where on Earth” tool by typing in a physical address or famouslandmark. Use the Google Navigation Tool to zoom down to street level totake a closer look. Search for a school or university, popularrestaurant, Movie Theater, museum, hotel, fitness center, address,landmark or thousands of other Educational related Products, Goods,and/or Services using GPS technologies. Virtual scavenger hunt lookingfor everything interesting, unusual or unexplained. Upload videos &photos, send instant messages, play games and video chat with theircircle of friends. Participate in online auctions and penny auctions.Follow your favorite sports team, view stadiums, scores, teams andplayers from major sporting events as they occur around the globe. Viewlinks to places and events, data on the landscape, interactive 360panoramas, fly-through shopping tours with stunning 3D imagery andvideos. Search for the latest bargains via a mobile phone to reachpeople at the point of shopping. Zoom into birds-eye view and navigatearound stunning 3D satellite images. Watch videos and news via RSSlinks. Have a unique interactive online 3D shopping experience. Learnhow Social Earth gives back to our planet and helping children, familiesand those in need through humanitarian aid, charitable donations orsustainable gifts.

As our social networking community grows around the world, the Companywill be able to develop additional revenue verticals such as onlinedating, online retail stores and more!

Advantages

Social Earth plans to offer a unique online shopping experience to usersand provide a multitude of advantages over other daily deal sites by:Social Earth will connect users online just like in the real world.Social Earth will allow users a one stop shopping experience where theycan find great bargains, chat with their circle of friends interact,search, play games, participate in virtual scavenger hunt, follow theirfavorite sport, upload videos & photos, send messages and more. SocialEarth will be an exceptional educational tool. Unlike other daily dealsites, Social Earth daily deals won't last just one day. Social Earthwill reach mobile customers at the point of sale via GPS technology.Social Earth will combine the power of a social networking communitywith a collective bargaining coupon site, the fastest growing businessmodel on the Web. Social networking integration will create “stickiness”and bring Social Shoppers back to the site again and again. Social Earthwill give back with every purchase.

Further non limiting examples of how the delivery system and software ofthe invention is interactive with the social shopper based upon thesocial shopper's preference, location, GPS, buying patterns, likes &dislikes, user profile, online communications, social networking, socialnetworking communities, social networking activities, messaging, onlinecommunications, viewing public & private user profiles, advertising,bidding, bidding behavior, bidding results, purchasing, behavior, buyingpattern and other criteria allowing the social behavior software tosearch for and filter and display related ad links, promotions, onlinecoupons, mobile services, Educational related Products, Goods, and/orServices, entertainment shopping penny auctions or online auctions, oradvertisements and affiliate advertising or services from merchants andsellers on the 3D landscape. So when a social shopper searches for adlinks, promotions, online coupons, mobile services, Educational relatedProducts, Goods, and/or Services or services on Social Earth, the socialbehavior software will keep track of online activity, location, onlinecommunications, search inquiries, social networking, social networkingcommunities, social networking activities, messaging, viewing public &private profiles, advertising, bidding, bidding behavior, biddingresults, social plugins, ad links, promotions, social applications,purchasing, behavior, buying patterns and other criteria and search for,filter and display related ad links, promotions, online coupons, mobileservices, Educational related Products, Goods, and/or Services orservices from merchants and sellers on the 3D landscape based upon thedesired location, GPS technology, behavior tracking, which can evenpredict future demand.

Each user's will have a unique experience on Social Earth based upontheir online activity, location, online communications, searchinquiries, social networking, social networking communities, socialnetworking activities, messaging, viewing public & private userprofiles, advertising, bidding, bidding behavior, bidding results,social plugins, ad links, promotions, social applications, buyingpreference, location and other criteria.

So if someone is searching for a particular promotion, online coupon,mobile service, Product, Good or Service, assortment of entertainmentand entertainment shopping, penny auction or online auctions,advertisement and affiliate advertising or service on Social Earth, thesocial behavior software will track their online activity, location,online communications, search inquiries, social networking, socialnetworking communities, social networking activities, messaging, viewingpublic & private user profiles, advertising, bidding, bidding, biddingbehavior, bidding results, social plugins, ad links, promotions, socialapplications, purchasing, behavior, buying patterns and other criteriaand filter and display related ad links, promotions, online coupons,mobile services, Educational related Products, Goods, and/or Services orservices from merchants and sellers on the 3D landscape based upon thedesired location, GPS technology, behavior tracking, which can evenpredict future buying demand.

For example, if someone is searching for a sporting event or other typeof entertainment on Social Earth and the social shopper previouslypurchased a coupon for a pizza, the social behavior software will locatenearby pizza restaurants, sporting events, sports venues, sports bars,hotels, and other points of interest etc. based upon the onlineactivity, location, online communications, search inquiries, socialnetworking, social networking communities, social networking activities,messaging, viewing public & private user profiles, advertising, bidding,bidding behavior, bidding results, social plugins, ad links, promotions,social applications, purchasing, behavior, buying patterns and othercriteria and filter and display related coupons, products, goods,services, advertisements and service providers on the 3D landscape basedupon the desired location, GPS technology, behavior tracking, which caneven predict future shopping.

If someone is searching for a new or used car, motorcycle, recreational,RV or other type of motorized vehicle or transportation on Social Earth,the software will search for related services based upon GPS such asi.e. dealerships, manufacturers, insurance, tires, oil change, car wash,air conditioning, gas stations, etc. based upon the online activity,location, online communications, search inquiries, social networking,social networking communities, social networking activities, messaging,viewing public & private user profiles, advertising, bidding, biddingbehavior, bidding results, social plugins, ad links, promotions, socialapplications, purchasing, behavior, buying patterns and other criteriaand filter and display related ad links, promotions, online coupons,mobile services, Educational related Products, Goods, and/or Services,assortment of entertainment and entertainment shopping, penny auctions,or online auctions, advertisements and affiliate advertising or servicesfrom merchants and sellers on the 3D landscape based upon the desiredlocation, GPS technology, behavior social software tracking, which caneven predict future shopping.

If the social shopper has previously purchased a coupon for pet food,the social behavior software will keep track of online activity,location, online communications, search inquiries, social networking,social networking communities, social networking activities, messaging,viewing public & private user profiles, advertising, bidding, biddingbehavior, bidding results, social plugins, ad links, promotions socialapplications, purchasing, behavior, buying patterns and other criteriaand filter and display related ad links, promotions, online coupons,mobile services, Educational related Products, Goods, and/or Services,entertainment shopping, penny auctions or online auction, advertisementsand affiliate advertising or services, pet stores, veterinarians,grooming services, advertisements and other related pet services on the3D landscape based upon the desired location, GPS technology, behaviortracking, which can even predict future shopping demand.

If someone is searching for a home, condo, apartment or other type ofreal estate on Social Earth, the social behavior software will trackonline activity, location, online communications, search inquiries,social networking, social networking communities, social networkingactivities, messaging, viewing public & private user profiles,advertising, bidding, bidding behavior, bidding results, social plugins,ad links, promotions, social applications, bidding, bidding behavior,bidding results, purchasing, behavior, buying patterns and othercriteria and filter and display related ad links, promotions onlinecoupons, mobile services Products, goods, or services, from i.e.brokers, agents, relocation services, lenders, moving and storage,furniture, lawn care or gardening, grocery stores, schools, doctors &physicians, parks, cleaning services, etc. on the 3D landscape, basedupon the desired location, GPS technology, behavior tracking, which caneven predict future buying demand.

If someone is searching for a school, college, university or other typeof educational services on Social Earth, the social behavior softwarewill track online activity, location, online communications, searchinquiries, social networking, social networking communities socialnetworking activities, messaging, viewing public & private userprofiles, advertising, bidding, bidding behavior, bidding results,social plugins, ad links, promotions, social applications, purchasing,behavior, buying patterns and other criteria and filter and displayrelated ad links, promotions, online coupons, mobile services, Products,Goods, or Services, for such items as i.e. online classes, studentloans, financial aid, colleges, universities, private and publicschools, tutoring, test preparation, etc. on the 3D landscape based uponthe desired location, GPS technology, behavior tracking, which can evenpredict future buying demand.

If someone is searching for a particular travel destination on SocialEarth, the social behavior software will track online activity,location, online communications, search inquiries, social networking,social networking communities, social networking activities, messaging,viewing public & private user profiles, advertising, bidding, biddingbehavior, bidding results, social plugins, ad links, promotions, socialapplications, purchasing, behavior, buying patterns and other criteriaand filter and display related ad links, promotions, online coupons,mobile services, Products, Goods, or Services, from merchants andsellers for such items as i.e. travel deals, airfare or groundtransportation options, restaurants, sport venues, entertainment,airports, car rentals, limos, dry cleaners and other services, etc. onthe 3D landscape based upon the desired location, GPS technology,behavior tracking, which can even predict future buying demand.

If someone is searching for an environmental-friendly or green producton Social Earth, the social behavior software will track onlineactivity, location, online communications, search inquiries, socialnetworking, social networking communications, social networkingactivities, messaging, viewing public & private user profiles,advertising, bidding, bidding behavior, bidding results, social plugins,ad links, promotions, social applications, purchasing, behavior, buyingpatterns and other criteria and filter and display related ad links,promotions, online coupons, mobile services, Educational relatedProducts, Goods, and/or Services for such as items as i.e. eco-friendlyhome, office and business products that reduce the carbon footprint,made from recycled materials and do little harm to the environment, etc.on the 3D landscape based upon the desired location, GPS technology,behavior tracking, which can search criteria, social shopper's buyingpreferences, buying patters, likes and dislikes, online communications,transaction history, etc. and even predict future buying demand.

If someone is searching for a flight comparison on Social Earth byclicking on one of the travel links i.e. Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz,Cheap Flights, Kayak, etc., the social behavior software will trackonline activity, location, online communications, search inquiries,social networking, social networking communities, social networkingactivities, messaging, viewing public & private user profiles,advertising, bidding, bidding behavior, bidding results, social plugins,social ad links, promotions, applications, purchasing, behavior andbuying patterns and other criteria and filter and display related adlinks, promotions, online coupons, mobile services, Products, Goods, orServices, for such services as fights, hotels, car rentals, restaurants,food & drink, entertainment and other related services on the 3Dlandscape based upon the desired location, GPS technology, behaviortracking, which can even predict future buying demand.

If someone is searching for a penny auction or online auction on SocialEarth, the social behavior software will track online activity,location, online communications, search inquiries, social networking,social networking communities, social networking activities, messaging,viewing public & private user profiles, advertising, bidding, biddingbehavior, bidding results, social plugins, ad links, promotions, socialapplications, purchasing, behavior and buying patterns and othercriteria and filter and display related ad links, promotions, onlinecoupons, mobile services, Products, Goods, or Services, on the 3Dlandscape based upon the desired location, GPS technology, behaviortracking, which can even predict future buying demand.

If someone is searching for a sporting event, sports memorabilia orother merchandise or advertisement on Social Earth, the social behaviorsoftware will track online activity, location, online communications,search inquiries, social networking, social networking communities,social networking activities, messaging, viewing public & private userprofiles, advertising, bidding, bidding behavior, bidding results,social plugins, ad links, promotions, social applications, purchasing,behavior and buying patterns and other criteria and filter and displayrelated ad links, promotions, online coupons, mobile services, Products,Goods, or Services, on the 3D landscape based upon the desired location,GPS technology, behavior tracking, which can even predict future buyingdemand.

Advantages: Social Earth™ plans to offer a unique online shoppingexperience to users and provide a multitude of advantages over otherdaily deal sites by connecting users online just like in the real world.Social Earth will allow users a one stop shopping experience where theycan find great bargains, chat with their circle of friends interact,search, play games, upload photos, send messages all without everyleaving Social Earth. Unlike other daily deal sites, Social Earth™ dealswon't last just one day. Social Earth is going to reach customers at thepoint of sale via GPS technology. Social Earth is going to combine thepower of a social networking community with a collective bargainingcoupon site, the fastest growing business model on the Web. Socialnetworking integration will create “stickiness” and bring SocialShoppers back to the site again and again. Social Earth™ is going togive back with each purchase.

A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it willbe understood that various modifications may be made. For example,elements of one or more implementations may be combined, deleted,modified, or supplemented to form further implementations. As yetanother example, the logic flows depicted in the figures do not requirethe particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirableresults. In addition, other steps may be provided, or steps may beeliminated, from the described flows, and other components may be addedto, or removed from, the described systems. Accordingly, otherimplementations are within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for providing an educational-relatedintegrated social networking and geospatial mapping interactive websitewith-computer based educational social networking using the internet andmobile devices that provide end user customized interactive displays ofthree dimensional (3D) geospatial maps comprising end user customized adlinks and promotions for educational products, goods, or services, andeducational company and local information for selected worldwidelocations, said method comprising: electronically providing aneducational-related integrated social networking and geospatial mappinginteractive website that provides geospatial mapping interactivedisplays interactive with social networking, where the geospatialinteractive displays provide a multi-dimensional and scalable geospatialmapping functional tool, and where the educational-related socialnetworking provides educational-related interactive emailing, messaging,texting, online auctions, networking communities, online communications,user profiles, instant messaging; social plugins, social applications,entertainment shopping, bidding, advertisements, promotions, onlinecoupons, mobile services, products, goods and services; wherein theeducational-related integrated social networking and geospatial mappinginteractive website is provided using the following steps: (a)electronically assigning, on non-transitory computer readable media, viaa processor on a computer system, an end user identifier to a clientmobile device or computer receiving a request from said end user; (b)electronically providing, on non-transitory computer readable media, viaa processor on a computer system or mobile device, at least one 3Dgeospatial interactive display data showing (1) first promotional datacollections for separate locations shown on said displays, said firstpromotional data collections comprising interactive links to ad links,promotions related to (1) Products, (2) Goods, (3) Services, (4) companyand local information for selected worldwide locations, (5) socialnetworking and (6) associated 3D geospatial mapping coordinates, togenerate at least one first end user integrated social networking andgeospatial mapping interactive website using the multi-dimensional andscalable geospatial mapping functional tool and integrated socialnetworking, user profiles, messaging, said first end user integratedsocial networking and geospatial mapping interactive website; (c)electronically providing, on non-transitory computer readable media, viaa processor on a computer system or mobile device, an interactivedisplay on said client computer of said 3D geospatial interactivedisplay provided in step (b); (d) electronically providing, onnon-transitory computer readable media, monitoring, collecting andanalyzing, via a processor on at least one computer system or mobiledevice, initial end users data via a processor on a computer system ormobile device to provide initial end users data sets, said initial endusers data sets comprising: (1) initial end users': (A) online activity,(B) geo-target locations based technologies including GPS and GIS andmultiple points of interest, (C) receiving current location of user'selectronic or mobile device and multiple points of interest, (D) onlinecommunications, (E) group chat, (F) circle of friends, (G) hangouts, (H)sports or games, (I) sports and sporting events interests, (J)educational interests, (K) social networking, (L) search inquiries, (M)videos or photos, (N) instant messenger, (O) social networkingactivities, (P) end user profiles, (Q) viewing and interactions withonline ad links, promotions, (R) purchasing, (S) purchasing behavior,(T) generating user behavior data, (U) preferences and (V) buyingpatterns; said initial end user data sets further comprising initial endusers′: (2) consumer profiles, and (3) trends, (4) cloud-typeconfiguration sharing and handling amounts of user data across multipleenterprises; and (5) target markets; (e) electronically providing, onnon-transitory computer readable media, generating, via a processor on acomputer system or mobile device, first promotional data sets from saidinitial end user data sets, said first promotional data sets comprisingfirst customized data sets of customized ad links, promotions for thecombination of each of: (i) said initial end users, (ii) additional endusers, and (iii) target end user groups, said first sets of customizedad links, promotions for educational: (1) products, (2) goods, (3)services, (4) company and local information for selected worldwidelocations, (5) integrated social networking; and (6) 3D geospatialmapping coordinates; and (f) electronically providing, on non-transitorycomputer readable media, generating, via a processor on a computersystem or mobile device, second promotional data sets from said firstpromotional data sets to provide 3D geospatial map interactive displays,to generate said first end user integrated social networking andgeospatial mapping interactive website using the multi-dimensional andscalable geospatial mapping functional tool and integrated socialnetworking, user profiles, messaging, said first end user integratedsocial networking and geospatial mapping interactive website comprisingsaid first customized sets of customized educational ad links andpromotions for educational: (1) products, (2) goods, (3) services, (4)company and local information for selected worldwide locations, (5)integrated social networking; and (6) 3D geospatial mapping coordinates;(g) electronically providing, on non-transitory computer readable media,selecting and integrating, via a processor on a computer system ormobile device, into said 3D geospatial map interactive displayscomprising said first promotional data sets of said customized ad linksand promotions, comprised of a first social/geo/promo link category fora first position of a social/geo/promo link promotional data set; and(h) electronically providing, on non-transitory computer readable media,identifying, via a processor on a computer system or mobile device, oneor more second social/geo/promo link categories using one or more degreeof network interaction correlation data values, at least one secondsocial/geo/promo link category having one or more degrees of networkinteraction correlation data values for said first social/geo/promo linkcategory to provide second promotional data sets comprising ofcustomized ad links and promotions for educational: (1) products, (2)goods, (3) services, (4) company and local information for selectedworldwide locations, (5) integrated social networking; and (6) 3Dgeospatial mapping coordinates; and (i) electronically displaying onsaid client mobile device or computer system said 3D geospatialinteractive display two or more of said first or second promotional datasets comprising said first or second customized ad links and promotionsprovided in steps (f), (g), or (h), to generate said first end userintegrated social networking and geospatial mapping interactive websiteusing the multi-dimensional and scalable geospatial mapping functionaltool and integrated social networking, user profiles, messaging, saidfirst end user integrated social networking and geospatial mappinginteractive website.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:selecting a third social/geo/promo link category for a second positionof the social/geo/promo link promotional data set, where the thirdsocial/geo/promo link category is different from the one or moreidentified second social/geo/promo link categories.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein: the social/geo/promo link promotional data set isdisplayed on a web page; and the social/geo/promo link categories areordered by relevance to the web page.
 4. The method of claim 1, whereinidentifying one or more second social/geo/promo link categories usingone or more degree of network interaction correlation data valuescriteria further comprises: identifying one or more social/geo/promolink categories having a degree of network interaction correlation datavalue that is less than a degree of network interaction correlationthreshold data value.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein: thesocial/geo/promo link categories are for one or more categoryidentifiers; and at least one of the one or more degree of networkinteraction correlation data values of a second social/geo/promo linkcategory is a measure of a calculated degree of network interactioncorrelation data values between a category identifier for the secondsocial/geo/promo link category and a category identifier for the firstsocial/geo/promo link category.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein atleast one second social/geo/promo link category has a separate degree ofnetwork interaction correlation data value for at least one pair-wisecombination of a category identifier for the at least one secondsocial/geo/promo link category and a category identifier for the firstsocial/geo/promo link category.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the atleast one second social/geo/promo link category has a composite degreeof network interaction correlation data value, the composite degree ofnetwork interaction correlation data value being one of a maximum, aminimum, or a combination of the separate degree of network interactioncorrelation data values for the at least one second social/geo/promolink category.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein identifying one or moresocial/geo/promo link categories having a degree of network interactioncorrelation data value that is less than a degree of network interactioncorrelation threshold data value further comprises: identifying one ormore social/geo/promo link categories having a composite degree ofnetwork interaction correlation data value that is less than a degree ofnetwork interaction correlation threshold data value.
 9. The method ofclaim 1, wherein said computer system or mobile device is provided by amobile device operator using a mobile device communication standard. 10.The method of claim 1, wherein said educational product or servicefurther includes celebrity or entertainment news.